Lets talk about risk for a minute.
When is RISK appropriate?
When is RISK appropriate?
Dr. John Piper certainly has many thoughts on the matter. I highly recommend reading his book Risk Is Right. It is free online and a quick read: https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/documents/e-books/pdfs/risk-is-right-1388566911.pdf
I personally own the book and agree that risk IS right. But when? And why?
I think a key to understanding this is thinking of either in terms of:
-Temporary significance-
or
-Eternal significance-
Is what you are RISKING for risking in serving for God's purposes for eternal significance or is this risk for temporary significance? This is an important way to view this. I just recently read an article where a newly wed couple were base jumping. The new bride's parachute did not work... and was crushed and disassembled on the earth floor. Her new husband didn't call the police right away out of absolute agony. He searched for her for some time and finally found her. By chance, I had accidentally came across the picture online (why it is SO important to be careful over the internet). I was absolutely scarred. Someone who was attempting to defame and attack the couple (who I suppose knew them) was attempting to spam parts of the internet with the horrifying scene. I was brought to tears as I was attempting to go to bed. Why was God allowing me to see this? It was one of the most horrifying sights I had ever laid eyes on. I was reminded of the grim reality of death and our decisions and how they effect death. I was reminded that Jesus was "crushed" for our sins, and it pleased the Lord to do so for his name's sake and for our sake. I was dumbfounded as the thought had finally hit me by the Holy Spirit's mercy (to really help me fall asleep and get this out of my head). Jesus was crushed far worse than this horrid situation from a earthly risk, no Jesus was crushed with a worse force than the universe sandwiching him from both sides--no he was crushed with the fiery wrath of the almighty creator of the universe. Ground to powder. This is why the image of the grape becoming wine and the wheat being ground by the millstone into bread is so relevant. When we take communion we are remembering that our savior was ground to powder for our sake and crushed like a popping and gushing grape for our sake. What a savior! But he wasn't RISKING as the world risks. No he was following the will of the Father for the sake of the elect. But for us who live by faith we must risk (making choices without knowing the future) and these choices should be dictated by following God's will also. We should risk only for the sake of Christ's purposes.
I personally own the book and agree that risk IS right. But when? And why?
I think a key to understanding this is thinking of either in terms of:
-Temporary significance-
or
-Eternal significance-
Is what you are RISKING for risking in serving for God's purposes for eternal significance or is this risk for temporary significance? This is an important way to view this. I just recently read an article where a newly wed couple were base jumping. The new bride's parachute did not work... and was crushed and disassembled on the earth floor. Her new husband didn't call the police right away out of absolute agony. He searched for her for some time and finally found her. By chance, I had accidentally came across the picture online (why it is SO important to be careful over the internet). I was absolutely scarred. Someone who was attempting to defame and attack the couple (who I suppose knew them) was attempting to spam parts of the internet with the horrifying scene. I was brought to tears as I was attempting to go to bed. Why was God allowing me to see this? It was one of the most horrifying sights I had ever laid eyes on. I was reminded of the grim reality of death and our decisions and how they effect death. I was reminded that Jesus was "crushed" for our sins, and it pleased the Lord to do so for his name's sake and for our sake. I was dumbfounded as the thought had finally hit me by the Holy Spirit's mercy (to really help me fall asleep and get this out of my head). Jesus was crushed far worse than this horrid situation from a earthly risk, no Jesus was crushed with a worse force than the universe sandwiching him from both sides--no he was crushed with the fiery wrath of the almighty creator of the universe. Ground to powder. This is why the image of the grape becoming wine and the wheat being ground by the millstone into bread is so relevant. When we take communion we are remembering that our savior was ground to powder for our sake and crushed like a popping and gushing grape for our sake. What a savior! But he wasn't RISKING as the world risks. No he was following the will of the Father for the sake of the elect. But for us who live by faith we must risk (making choices without knowing the future) and these choices should be dictated by following God's will also. We should risk only for the sake of Christ's purposes.
Two quick/short videos on the subject of our perspective:
Many people who are aware of Russian Culture after the fall of the Soviet Union have been aware of some of the wild behavior of the youth... one of the sub-cultures that have come out of this has been a culture of "daredevils." It has followed the french movement of Parkour and has upped it 1,000 fold.
The Russian slang word for daredevil is a pretty cool word--but it gives you an idea of just how insane people are there-- its literal translation is Rip Head... or ripping someone's head off.
Here are some videos of this sub-culture... there is an element of it that seems cool and interesting but when we reflect on the fact that this is actually real people doing this in real situations... it becomes gravely horrifying.
For starters:
The Shanghai Tower....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUD-Au5O-30
Can you still breath? Wow..
Some kid on a bridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1exXHSwTfgo
Quick Documentary on the sub-culture (24 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-vjutwJyY4
5-story roof jump into the snow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EksaafuZhl0
Home made bungee jumping?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkZt0m6wjXU
Now here is the question to ask with all of these videos...
Why do this?
For excitement, for joy?
Who's glory are they seeking? Their own temporary glory? Or that of Jesus?
Are they thinking about eternity or the temporary?
It should be obvious... they are looking only at the temporary and only for their own self-glory...
They neglect the cares of their loved ones and parents and selfishly risk their own lives as though it were of no potential value.
This is the type of risk that we want to have:
It reminds me of the warning in Revelation 21:8 and the inclusion of the word "cowardly." We could have done something, we had the ability, but we didn't risk. Jump across that holy cliff, come to the arms of Christ.
