“But the chain reaction of faith defies gravity, defies the imagination.”- Mark Batterson
In Chapter 25 (“I Dwell in Possibility”) of If, Mark Batterson states that before every breakthrough, someone first had to imagine the impossible. In fact, Pastor Batterson emphatically asserts, what if is not optional if God is for us. Mark’s prayer is Soren Kierkegaard’s plea:
“If I were to wish for anything I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of what can be, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, as possibility?”
As the apostle Paul reminds us, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). All finites are equal to an infinite God. That is the essence of what if. The problem comes when we create God in our image, ending up with an idol that is a mirror image of ourselves. In the words of A. W. Tozer, we are left with “a God who can never surprise us, never overwhelm us, not astonish us, nor transcend us.”
Mark notes that everyone recognizes the old adage, Ready, set, go. Pastor Batterson believes that adage should read Go. Set. Ready. The adage needs to be reversed:
“You’ll never be ready! If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll be waiting till you die. And you’ll never be set. Sometimes you need to just go for it.”
Certainly the cost must be counted. Twice. However, you need to consider more than the actual cost. You must count the opportunity cost.
Most of all, remember God overcomes all odds and overwhelms all obstacles. God showed He is for us at the cross. Therefore, that issue is a moot point. As Mark notes, that leaves only one question:
“Are we on His side? God has cast His vote for us, Satan has cast his vote against us, and we must cast the deciding vote. God is for you, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The only question is: Are you for God?”
Today’s question: How can the chain reaction of faith enable you to be more concerned about missing opportunities than making mistakes? Please share.
Coming Monday: the new Short Meditation, “Bear witness”
Tomorrow’s blog: “How you see God”