Can you remember back to a time in your life where you did something so illogical that friends and family thought you were a little off? Perhaps they even went to you in private and counseled you to rethink your actions?
My own significant ‘illogical living’ season occurred when I was first diagnosed with state 4, metastatic kidney cancer – terminal they told me. The cancer was everywhere. My doctor gave me 3 to 6 months to live. He even advised me to just go home and enjoy my family – no chemo, no treatment – just go home and die.
Of course, that didn’t sit well with me! I informed my doctor, who was standing by my bedside, that God didn’t want me to die of cancer and I didn’t want to die of cancer, so that was that. I recall we had a brief “illogical” and edgy conversation, but I was adamant. I was going live and not die. Doctors are wonderful, but they only work with facts. God works with the truth and the first report isn’t always the last report.
I was challenged to walk the most enormous faith walk of my life. And trust me, it was a daily endeavor, but I decided from the get-go to live my life as if I would live to be around for at least another 30 years or more! It was a walk of faith in God’s word; I will admit it looked bleak at times, but often walking in faith seems illogical at best.
Faith is the ability to trust what we can’t see, and with that comes freedom in the spiritual arena that few people dare to travel. I find it interesting that the African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of more than 30 feet, but they won’t jump if they can’t see where their feet will land. Walking in faith is the same. If we could see where we were going it wouldn’t require faith.
How illogical was it for Noah to build that ark in the desert? And how illogical was it for young David to attack giant Goliath? How about the Peter getting out of the boat in the middle of a sea in the middle of the night in the middle of a massive storm?
Crazy stuff for sure. But then the results speak for themselves, don’t they?! And because so many people aren’t willing to seem illogical, they never build the ark, kill a giant, or walk on water.
Faith is acting as if God has already answered our payers. I have a sign on my desk that reads, “Proceed as if success is inevitable!” That is the ultimate act of faith. When I fought cancer, I planned for my future – and trust me, it went against all logic! I bought some new clothes (not the most challenging things for a gal, i know) – I went to the dentist for a new tooth implant and we purchased some new patio furniture. These may seem like small things but when you are sick as a dog, bald, and look like death warmed over, these things are huge!
I remember a thought-provoking conversation between a pastor and a gal he had just prayed for: “So, when are you going to have faith that you’re healed?” Lady: “After all my symptoms are gone!” Pastor: “Why are you going to have faith then? After that, you’ll know!!” That’s actually profound. Faith can be a tough walk, but it’s a walk of opportunity that can be incredible, and it gives occasion to look back with awe & wonder and give Almighty God glory in a whole new way of understanding.
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote 256 cantatas, and the interesting thing about these pieces is that before being songs, they all started as payers. And before Bach began arranging the music, he would scribble, JJ at the very top – an abbreviation for “Jetu, Juva.” It was a very simple prayer – “Jesus, help me.” Then, at the end of his music, Bach inscribed SDG (Soli Deo Gloria) down at the bottom. There, Bach prayed that each piece of music would proclaim, “To the glory of God alone.”
Imagine for a minute what our world would look like if we all followed suit! What kind of cultural impact would that have on our society? That no matter what we were going through, how grueling or remarkable our life journey was, we gave all the glory to God?! To have SDG jotted down on my medical records, to have SDG scribbled on the side of a student’s social studies test; to have my Jeep mechanic engrave SDG on the side of my radiator, or to text SDG to my friends at the end of a ‘send’ because ultimately this is all about Who we live for.
Here’s how a very wise person once put it: “In all things, may the victory come to us while the glory goes to God.” I can live with that SDG!!!
Bob and Susan Becket pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPCitychurch.org
