Bail
Out?
by Lauri Krentz
Our pastor preached a good message entitled, "Four Characteristics of Someone Who Has Impact." The message ministered to me because there is nothing I want more than to have an impact for Jesus Christ. The four characteristics he gave were: consistency, authenticity, selflessness, and tirelessness. I have really been thinking about the last characteristic in the list, tirelessness. Each of the four are important but if you don't have three: consistency, authenticity and selflessness, you will have difficulty with tirelessness. The dictionary defines tireless as having, or showing a capacity for, protracted effort, regardless of difficulty or frustration. Many of us fall short of tirelessness, resulting in becoming ineffective; not having impact.
There have been times the last couple of years when I have felt so tired. What the Lord has called me to do sometimes seems too difficult. My reaction is to want to bail out. (Obviously there are times when the Lord would lead someone to remove themselves from an abusive or harmful situation.) But I have learned that a good deal of the time He is allowing the difficult situation to test me. Do I really believe that He is Sovereign and knows what is best for me? Am I consistent when the rubber meets the road? Do I really trust Him and believe that He is sufficient?
Christians sometimes tend to have this "bail out" mentality. When the going gets tough, bail out! Does the situation the Lord has you in seem too difficult? Bail out! Have you been disappointed by someone? Bail out! Are you unappreciated? Bail out! Unmet expectations? Bail out! Difficulties in relationships? Bail out! Have you been misunderstood? Bail out! Are you in a seemingly impossible situation? Bail out!
When it comes right down to it, bailing out of a difficult situation, because we're uncomfortable, is refusing to give up our personal rights to Jesus, refusing to abandon ourselves to His will for our lives. Nowhere in Scripture are we guaranteed, as followers of Jesus Christ, the right to an easy, comfortable life. It doesn't say we will be appreciated and understood. It doesn't say our relationships with others will always be wonderful. It doesn't say our expectations will all be met. Actually it says the very opposite.
"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." II Timothy 2:3 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. "II Timothy 3:12 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4
Scripture is full of men and women, totally committed to God, who went through one trial after another. Jesus, Himself, is the perfect example of being tireless in carrying out the plan God had laid out for Him. "He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3) Yet the trials did not deter Him from what God had called Him to do. Jesus never bailed out.
In 1955, when Jim Elliot and four other missionaries were speared to death by those to whom they were ministering, many Christians were spurred to go to the mission field. There was something appealing about men and women willing to sacrifice their very lives because of their commitment to Jesus Christ. What would happen if that event happened today? My guess is that many Christians would use it as proof that they should not go to the mission field. After all, see how dangerous it is? I can't expose my children to that kind of danger.
What has happened to us? Where along the way did personal comfort become our idol? When did we decide it was okay to bail out of any difficult situation? I am convinced that our society is in the shape it is in because Christians have consistently refused to stand up against evil, it is just too uncomfortable. If there is any risk to personal comfort, whether it be in the family, personal reputation, financial insecurity, or uncertainty, many Christians want nothing to do with it.
I love my comfort zone, sometimes I even worship it. It becomes an idol when it comes before doing what is right, and I have to repent. I have lived long enough to know that when I am in that comfort zone I am usually ineffective. I am inspired and challenged by strong believers like Oswald Chambers and Elisabeth Elliot who bring home over and over again the concept of total abandonment to God. Despite how I feel, despite the trials, despite anything and everything, I need to be abandoned to His will. As one of Amy Carmichael's poems says, "In acceptance lieth peace." Elisabeth Elliot says that true contentment comes when we accept everything in our lives as a gift from God, a gift that will teach us to be more like Him. Even trials and uncomfortable situations can be gifts.
Unfortunately comfort is not a fruit of the Spirit, but longsuffering is. How do we remain tireless? Through the Holy Spirit, our FAITH and HOPE motivates us to keep on keeping on! We should not look for comfort in our circumstances but to our Heavenly Father who is the "God of all comfort." (II Cor. 1:3) It is only when our faith and hope are strong that we can experience joy in the midst of struggle, peace that surpasseth understanding, and longsuffering in the midst of hardship. If we are totally abandoned to God, He will do the rest. "For with God nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:37
"All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:4,5
Are you in a difficult circumstance?
Don't bail out, look up!
Do you have a difficult relationship with someone?
Don't bail out, look up!
Have you been grossly misunderstood?
Don't bail out, look up!
Has someone disappointed you?
Don't bail out, look up!
Part of a song by Michael Card comes to mind:
Hope has been woven throughout
all creation
An anchor that holds through the waves
Hope is the helmet of each noble soldier
For only the warrior who hopes can be brave.
Hope you in the Lord and renew your strength,
Soar you up on eagles wings.
Tirelessly run the long race that's set before you.
Your life's a song the Father sings.
Don't bail out . . .
Hope you in the Lord!