LESSON: The Faith Chapter

Risk Takers Wanted!

⁸By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:8-10 NIV

MORE BACKGROUND READING
Genesis 12:1-25:11

In this day and age, there are many wealthy individuals. Some receive their wealth through inheritance, hard work, or crooked methods. Jesus spoke many times about the power money has over people. It is not easy for a person who lives a life of luxury to think about heaven because sadly many think heaven is here on earth. If they were asked to start over from scratch, you would probably get a blank stare and "Are you crazy?"

At 75 years old, a wealthy landowner received a request from God. In Genesis 12, the Lord said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.' God asked Abram to give up his familiar surroundings to go an unfamiliar land. Interestingly, Abraham did not respond with excuses like "I'm too old!", "You will make a nation ... with what ... I have no children!", "But I like it here." It says in the scripture he OBEYED and WENT.

Faith requires risks. No turning back. Like the Nike slogan a "just do it" attitude is required. Some people never discover their faith or reach their potential because they don't want to travel into the unknown. But in order to be blessed by God, we must be willing to go into "strange lands". If Abraham decided not to obey, we would have no Old Testament history. Where would Jesus come in without a New Testament. God created a nation from this one man. If you have found yourself saying, "I'm only one person", you might want to rethink that phrase. All things are possible with God, but we must be willing.

Let me share some related scriptures that emphasize the cost of following Jesus. Notice how they relate to Abraham's walk of faith.

Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Matthew 8:19-20

MATERIAL POSSESSIONS are of no real value. Jesus was born in a stable and was actually "homeless." Our faith requires us to "store up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:20-21)" Notice Abraham did not let his wealth or material possessions stop him from obeying God's will.

Another disciple said to him; "Lord, first let me go and bury my father". But Jesus told him, "Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead." Matthew 8:21-22

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:34-35

The cost of following Jesus requires SACRIFICE. Abraham was probably comfortable in his father's household. His wealth was apparently inherited and his entire family lived in Haran. So, why did he leave his comfort zone? This was indeed a big sacrifice. In Hebrews, verse 10 explains it very well. "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." We also should be willing to be risk takers like Abraham, looking forward to the end result of our decision.

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