Stepping out in Faith

Stepping out in faith.  In Christian circles, Christian literature, and catchy contemporary Christian songs we hear this term thrown around with little care or concern for its theological importance and weight.  Instead, the act of stepping out in faith means more to the Christian life than just a hype word that Christians throw around to sound spiritually devout.

There are a number of significant accounts in Scripture where the theme of stepping out in faith is prominent.  Think about Noah.  God asks him to build a giant boat in the middle of the desert.  When the Lord told Noah his response was probably, "Really, Lord? A Boat? Here?"  But Noah was obedient.   Talk about stepping out in faith.

Or Abraham, he waited decades for God to fulfill his promise of progeny through Sarah.  And then, when she finally does give birth to Isaac, God asks Abraham to lead his son up a mountain and to offer him to the Lord as a sacrifice: stepping out in faith.  Abraham could have easily ignored that request but he remained obedient to God's request.

Think of David.  He was anointed by Samuel and the Lord as the king of Israel, but was obligated to wait for years before he could become king.  Moreover, on two separate occasions he had perfect opportunities to kill Saul and sieze the kingdom that was rightfully his.  Instead, David remained faithful to the Lord, trusting that in God's time he would receive the fulness of God's promised blessing if he would remain obedient through the waiting.

Then there's Elijah.  He was so appalled by Israel's abominations of sinfulness that he challenged all of the prophets of Baal and Asherah to a showdown on Mount Carmel (1 Kgs. 18:20-40).  It was Elijah against some 850 prophets.  Elijah believed that God would show up and defend him.  If the Lord would not have consumed the altar, Elijah would most certainly have been killed.  But Elijah stepped out in faith, believing in obedience that God would save him in his time of need.

There are a number of New Testament accounts that point to stepping out in faith but perhaps none as profound as the story of Paul.  Paul was one of Christianity's leading opponents and most vociferous antagonists to the growing movement of Christianity following Jesus' crucifixion.  Yet on the road to Damascus, in one of the most famous conversions, Paul was blinded by God so that his eyes could be opened to the Lord Jesus.

Following this momentous experience, Paul became one of the most influential of all the early church leaders.  In this, despite the ardent hatred for Christians that had dominated his life before conversion, Paul stepped out in faith that God would guide and use him for kingdom purposes.  This is what stepping out in faith is all about: eschewing the fear of the unknown, overlooking doubt, ignoring our concerns, and, in obedience, relying solely on God to provide the perfect outlet for us to be faithful in serving and bring Him glory.

Ultimately, stepping out in faith is much more than a nice Christian tagline; it is a way of life.  The focus here is on the faith, stepping out is how that faith is proven by action.  If we do not step out of our comfort zones expecting that God would keep us, then are we really living out faith to its fullest requirements?  Instead, let us strive together to live with an attitude of radical faith that desires to rely on God.