“This
day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose
life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19,
NIV).
Is there a
promise for your life you are afraid to believe? Does making a
commitment to trust and step out in faith seem too great? Does a lack
of trust hold you back? You haven't really said no to that promise,
because that would shut the door on the possibility that it might
come true. But you haven't said yes, either, because of the cost. The
fence of non-commitment on which you are sitting will keep you from
what God has promised you. Non-commitment might feel like it is a
place of safety, but it isn't. To receive your promise, you will have
to risk stepping off your fence and trusting God. You sit on the
fence of non-commitment because not sitting on the fence means that
you must make a decision one way or the other. If you get off the
fence, you will be forced to commit to something. You will either
believe or not believe. You will either have faith or not have faith.
You will either accept or reject. You are afraid to commit because
either way you might be wrong. So you sit on your fence because you
presume it is easier and safer than letting go of it. It is not
easier and it is not safer. You may think your fence of
non-commitment is safe, but all it does is keep you in prison without
any hope. You have to risk in order to believe.
Staying
on your fence of non-commitment is really a choice. It is a choice to
remain in bondage instead of discovering the freedom found in letting
go and trusting God. "Now the Lord is the Spirit,” Paul
imparts, “and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”
(2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV). The Holy Spirit will make every effort to
liberate you from your fence. He will use the circumstances of life
to try and get you to trust God. He will move heaven and earth to
shake you off that fence and pry your fingers from its false
protection. You must choose to let go and make a commitment to
believe in His faithfulness. The fence does not protect you. It is a
place where non-commitment will destroy what little faith you have.
Before
his death Moses spoke to the Israelites and instructed them to choose
prosperity and life instead of destruction and death (Deuteronomy
30:11-15). They had remained on their fence afraid to go into their
promised land, but now was the time for them to choose. Not stepping
out in faith to claim their promise was choosing death over life.
Choosing to get off their fence and move into their promise was going
to cost them their presumed safety. They would have to overcome the
barriers to their promise. Letting go of the fence means that you
must face your own giants. But you do not face them alone. Just as
the Israelites moved forward in faith with God's protection, so will
you. Getting off the fence does not mean you will fail. It means that
you have chosen to trust Him and His promise.
Let
go of non-commitment. He will not fail you. He will bring you safely
through pain, fear, and heartache into your promised land because you
have chosen to believe Him. Sacrifice your fence of non-commitment
and trust in Jesus Christ who sacrificed all for you. “So do not
fear, for I am with you,” He declares. “Do not be dismayed, for I
am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). This is His promise
when you let go of that fence. He will strengthen and uphold you
because you have risked believing.
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