The Game of LIFE: RISK

You might be able to say that all of our lives are a game of risk management. We might not crunch the numbers before we get a car, jump on a plane, or even just walk down the street, but we are really just navigating our lives with a constant assessment of risk management. When you pull out into traffic, you assess the risk. When you take something out of the fridge, and it looks a little questionable, but you’re hungry, so you still eat it, you assess the risk. You’re also a single university student. When you dive into a pool, ski down a hill, jump out of a plane, get on an amusement park ride, you are engaging in risk management.

But here’s the deal people:

• You are more likely to drown at home in the bathtub than in a pool or ocean, and way more like to die in your tub than be attacked by a shark.
• You are more likely to be electrocuted in your home than hit by lightening.
• You are more likely to fall down your steps and die than off a cliff and die.
• You are more likely to be killed by a kitchen appliance than by a weapon.
• You’re morel likely to die in a plane that is landing, than by parachuting out of the plane.
• You are more likely to die in your car than walking.
• You are more likely to be killed by almost any other thing in the world- by the flu, by accidental poisoning, by a hernia (And I’ve had three hernia operations!)- than you are to be killed by a terrorist.

Now here’s the scariest part. Look at the person on your right, and one your left. If you came here with someone, take note of who they are, because- you are almost ten times more likely to be killed by someone you know than by a stranger- changes are, if you’re going to be killed, you just looked at the person who wants to kill you!

OK, so what is my point in all this- if you want to play the odds and play it safe in this life you need to get away from the people sitting next to you, you need to get out of your house, you need to NOT get into you car, but get onto a plane, you need to jump out of the plane, you need to land in shark infested waters, swim around with them for a while, climb a mountain, then move to Norway, the safest country in the world! I hope you all like pickled herring and those sweaters with weird claps in the front.

OK, what's my REAL point in all this- good luck if you want to eliminate all risk from your life. It can’t be done, and it’s no way to live. And I want to talk to you about embracing and living a life of risk. For too long the Christian life has been stereo typed and marginalized as a lame, boring, dull and lifeless monotony. The characteristic Christian is, in many circles, someone old, stuck-up and stodgy. Someone more concerned about the things they don’t do, than the things they do. More concerned about the things other people do than who they are. More tied up into religious practice and legalism, that relationships and abundant life.

And you know what, while all this might be true for many, I’m sick of it. Because the God who called me to life, the Lord I follow, is a God who risks loving us and inviting us into a relationship with himself. The life my Lord calls me to is a life of radical abandonment risk. You can’t get away from this reality- the real life of loving and serving God is one of the most awesome Risks you’ll ever take. In fact, it is the most awesome risk you or anyone else could ever take.

Our God is a God of RISK! In fact, you can hardly turn a page in the bible without seeing God taking a risk and God calling people to take a risk. In the beginning God took the first giant step of risk- he made people in his own image- he made us. And when he made us as creatures who bear His image, he risked himself, and he risked a relationship with people who could love Him back, or who could turn away. And the bible starts with the story of that risk, and the consequences of it- we did turn our back on a relationship with God. But ever since that moment God has risked opening his life to us, risked entrusting his mission to us, risked using broken vessels like us. Yes he is sovereign, yes he is in control, yes he holds the universe in his hands and knows the plans he has for us- but as this story of God unfolds for us it is a story of awesome and amazing Risk.

God risked calling a man named Abram to start this plan of redemption. God asked him to take a risk- to set out from the land he knew, old and childless as he was, with a promise- from you with come a nation, from this nation and from your line, will come the savior of the world. But you have to take a risk- you have to get up, leave it all, and go. No other instructions, not 1 year, five year, 20 year plan- just go with the promise. And he choose to take the risk.

Moses took a risk and he stood up to Pharaoh and demanded that he let his people go. The people took a risk and they followed Moses, they left Egypt, the crossed the Red Sea and ventured into the desert. The people learned to risk trust and faith in God. They failed repeatedly, but God kept calling them back to the risky life of faith.

David risked stepping up to a giant named Goliath. When everyone else backed down, this boy risked his life, and risked faith in God’s strength. David defeated the giant, became king of Israel, and continued a life of risk for God, stumbling many times along the way. But each time he got up, turned back to God, and went forward risking faith.

God risked coming to a young girl named Mary, a story we’ll talk much more about in December, and she risked saying yes to God. She risked her marriage, her life, everything, to honor God. Joseph risked faith and stayed with Mary, and married her, and believed in the promise of God.

Jesus’ cousin John risked standing up to the religious and political establishment. He preached a message of repentance and radical love. He preached to the people and called them to take the ultimate risk of baptism- to be washed clean by his forgiveness, to stand in new life in God, and to then give that new life over completely to God to be used by Him to whatever he would call them to.

Jesus risked everything. Jesus risked becoming one of us, become flesh and blood. Jesus risked putting his life in the hands of Mary and Joseph as a baby. Jesus grew up and risked his mission in the world. He risked being baptized himself to inaugurate his public ministry. He risked going out into the desert to be tempted, but came out stronger after on the other side. He risked calling others to follow him. He called ordinary men. Actually, he called less than ordinary men. He called deeply flawed men, men with history, with a past. He risked seeing something more in them. He risked seeing himself in them. He risked seeing them take his mission to the very ends of the earth.

In Luke chapter 5 Jesus is well into his public ministry. He has actually meet many of the will-be disciples at this point. He has miraculously healed the sick, thrown out demons and taught his message that the Kingdom of God was at hand in him. He had a following, but he did not yet have followers- those who would risk everything for him. There’s always a difference there. Many people many have a following. They might draw a crowd and have some fair-weather fans. But few have followers- few will be followers. But these men were about to lead the way in becoming followers of Jesus.

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

You see, it had been maybe a much as a year or more since Jesus first meet Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, and the other fishermen, James and John. They had met Jesus, talked with him, listened to him, and seen what he has done. In fact, the previous chapter we learn that Simon’s mother in law was on her deathbed, but Jesus healed her. So Simon is probably pretty upset with Jesus.

Anyways, a huge crowd is ready to listen to Jesus. He’s got an in with Simon so he got into one of his boats and asked him to push just off shore. It sounds like a pretty cool little floating pulpit. Then he taught. Then he asks Simon to push out into the deep water . What’s he going to do at this moment? What would you do? Feel the tension in the air as the command hangs. He’s worked all night. He knows how to fish, and he knows there are no fish to catch.

Option one- blow the question off. Jesus, your a preacher. I’m a fisherman. Let’s both stick with what we know, OK. The result- life goes on as normal. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

How often do we respond to the call of Jesus in the same way? Option one- we blow it off. Because Jesus command is not too difficult o understand. Give your life to me. Believe in me. Follow me. Jesus, your demands are too hard, too unrealistic, too, well, demanding. So forget it. Let’s just keep our relationship the way it is. You can stay on the boat with me, in fact, I kind of like having you in the boat with me. You get to tag along with my life and do the things I’m doing. How fun! But here’s the deal Jesus, I’m going about my business. I’m going to stick close to shore. Jesus, you can get onboard with my marriage, but I’m going to about things my way. You can come with me to work, but I have my game plan already. I’m going to stay close to the shore. The result- nothing changes, or at least not anything that takes us deeper into the waters of faith.

Option two- make up an excuse. You know Jesus, I really would love to do a little more fishing with you today, but I have some errands to run, and I’m a bit tired now and really should get some rest, but let’s schedule this for another time, OK, real soon I promise. The result- life goes on as normal. No risk, no reward.

We often respond to Jesus this way to. Jesus, what you are asking is a RISK, and while that rish appeals to me, it doesn’t fit in with my plans for my life right now. So let’s put this off a bit. Let me have my fun now at this time and stage. Then I’ll follow you. If Simon said, hey, let’s wait and hour, let me at least go get some breakfast, I believe he would have missed the moment. He would have missed the opportunity to leap, and he would have missed the opportunity to be part of a miracle. The result- nothing changes, and Jesus goes on to a different boat. The real shame here is that so many put off following Jesus because they think it’s just going to be more work, and not reward. That the real reason we don’t risk acting on what Jesus asks us to do.

Option three- take a risk. Maybe that’s what Jesus was preaching on as he taught in Simon’s boat. But whatever was being said before, he stops and says, “Master, we’ve fished all night and haven’t caught a thing…but because you say so.”

I love what Simon says here. He states things as they really are. First, he acknowledges Jesus as Master. He had some sense of who he was and is. Then he reminds Jesus of the way things really were. We’ve fished all night and there’s nothing out there to catch. Really this isn’t an issue of saying, well maybe Jesus knows something about fishing that we don’t know. This was their job! They knew where to go and when to go. It wasn’t even the right time to fish anymore. They were all sleeping, like Simon wanted to be doing! Then he puts the responsibility entirely onto Jesus. But because you say so, I will let down the nets. That’s perfect. Jesus, I want you to know that I believe you are the Master. I also want you to know what I’ve tried to do. Now, if I’m hearing you correctly, I’m going to do this. I’m going to take a risk. I’m not doing this for myself- I’m doing this completely out of obedience to what you’ve asked.

I don’t think Jesus really asks anything more of us. It’s really rather unremarkable. Throw out your nets. But do it now. They’ve done it a thousand times before. It’s not like the actual act of obedience was anything new. It was simply the context and the timing. Out of faith, out of obedience, listen to what I tell you to do now, and see what happens. And that’s how Jesus works with all his followers. A life of great risk for God often starts with an act of simple obedience. Of doing something completely un-remarkable and within our means. He asks for obedience. Then he tells us to leave the results up to him.

Simon puts the boat out, he throws out his nets, and they are so filled with fish the nets begin to break. He calls his buddies to help. They all fished all night so they are all amazed. They come to shore and Simon says, “Jesus I will always follow and obey.” No, what does he say, “Jesus, go away from me. I am a sinful man.” There is the immediate recognition here of something few people get- when we risk following Jesus it is going to mess up our lives in wonderful ways. Simon here gets it- I am standing before God. And that scares the dickens out of me.

Jesus says to him, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats to shore. Left everything, and followed him. After the greatest haul of their fishing lives they leave it all behind. You know what I would have done, I may have been so dumb that I would have been totally focused on the fish. But Jesus, we need to gather these fish and get them to market. We are going to make a killing. Hey, I’ll even give you 10% for your ministry.

Which would of course been the stupidest thing in the world to do because at this moment Simon has the realization, if Jesus can bring in a catch like this, what else can he do? Or really, is there anything he can’t do? And if there isn’t anything he can’t do, I’m going to keep listening to him. I’m going to keep taking this risk of trusting him. Because if he told me I would catch fish, and I did; then if he tells me I’m going to catch men, then I will.

Folks, there is nothing, nothing else in the world like the Risk of following Jesus. Like the risk of stepping out in faith, of doing what God tells us to do, simple or dramatic, and trusting him with the results. Maybe, like Simon and these guys, you’ve heard about Jesus for a long time. You been around his teaching, you been around while things are happening in the church and in other peoples lives. You been on the edge working on your nets, but now is the time to push off into deep water. Now is the time to take a RISK and experience what it’s like to really trust in Jesus with your life. But if you here, and this is the first time you’ve really heard about this Jesus, I simply want to encourage you not to wait any longer. Don’t let another year pass by without risking faith. Don’t let another month, week or day. It’s Risk IT!

In CS Lewis’ classic "The Lion, The Witch and the Warecrobe," there is a wonderful scene in the beginning when Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus the fawn. He begins to describe the great lion, and Lucy, being a little girl, is frightened. She asks, is he safe? And Mr. Tumnus, in one of theologies greatest insights to God says, “Oh no, he is not safe. But he is good!”

Friends, I invite you to embrace a life of risk in Jesus Christ. He is not safe, but he is good. Following him is not safe, but it is good. It is so good! He is going to push you and stretch you and challenge you to live a life of rish, the life you were meant to life. It won’t be safe, it will involve risk, but it will be good.

You will risk living a life of purpose for God- a life of calling and not of trivial pursuits. You will risk obeying his commands to love God, and love neighbor, and love yourself. You will risk trusting God’s plan for your relationships and marriage, your children and all your family. You will risk saying no to the cultures call to play with sex like a fun little game, and risk saying yes to God’s awesome plan to bless men and women, to give us pleasure, to give us children, to give us a bond that lasts for a lifetime. You will have to risk living generously and not worshipping your money. You will risk giving to the needy, giving to the point where you make sacrifices, giving and trusting that God will work things out. You will be called to risk letting go of revenge, and offering forgiveness, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.

Folks, don’t let a life of Risk pass you by. Push out into deep waters with Jesus, throw down you nets, throw down you life, and see what he will do with you. Risk sharing his love with a coworker this Christmas. Risk taking a gift to a neighbor. Risk making amends with an estranged family member. Risk giving generously to your family this year in resources, and time, and yourself. Risk laying it all down before Him.

Shortly after this calling of Simon, Jesus takes another risk with the disciples. He risks sending them out to minister in His name. It’s always a risk t give someone permission to invoke your name. He sends them out will many helpful instructions, and warning. And he sends them out with this promise among others, “

Whoever finds his life will lose it. And whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39

Just when you think you’ve gotten a hold of your life. Whn you think you’ve eliminated all the risk, all the chance, all the variables, guess what- the game is over. You can try to eliminate all the risk you want by in the end the game ends.

Jesus tells us that the one who spends his or her whole life trying to control the board and contain the risk will be the one, in the end, to lose the most. But the one who freely loses his or her life for Jesus will find it.

Today I invite you to take a risk, the biggest risk, the greatest risk of all- to throw down the safety net of your life to Jesus. Lose your life for Him, and discover how good he really is!