Phone calls made from United Flight 93 made several passengers come to the conclusion that they needed to live boldly in their last minutes of life. Todd Beamer’s words, “Let’s roll!”, inspired a nation.
When the doctor told us I had cancer, Susan researched and found a rather depressing statistic. The average length of life after diagnosis was 3-5 years. Since then, the average has been raised to 5-7 years. I’ve lived two of these years and Susan and I debate about which statistic applies to me.
So should I live boldly these last years of life or should I live in fear? The Lord gives one answer and the devil gives the other. I have had the advantage of thinking about this quite a bit, but Jesus wants us all to know His thinking… no matter what our circumstance.
“Take no thought for your life…” Can we really live in such a way? Jesus did – because He knew everything was in the hands of God. He was on earth for a purpose – to do the will of His Father. Is it any different for us?
By living boldly, I mean living out the life of Christ: If someone asks, I give. If someone strikes, I turn. If someone sues, I surrender. If someone hates, I love. If someone needs to be rescued, I risk my life. When Satan’s lies are all around, I tell the truth. When things look so bad it seems God has failed, I believe He is there.
Lack of trust may be our biggest obstacle to living boldly. The devil makes us think such talk is foolishness, but the Spirit of God says, “Trust the Father and walk by faith. You will not see the end presently, but God holds all things in His hands. He is faithful. Even if the worst seems to happen, God can bring good. As you live boldly in Christ, He will live boldly in you.”
May the words of our greatest Hero inspire God’s holy nation to live boldly.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.” “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”