On the Edge

Maybe you're about to "fall" off, or maybe you're about to "jump." Either way, Jesus has shown us...we need to step away from the edge. At any moment, the enemy can step in and "tempt" us to believe that God is not with us...that He's abandoned us and our faith is vain. The devil likes to find us in our moments of doubt, in the midst of our faith, and isolate our situations in life where we feel as though everything is unraveling...falling apart at the seams. We get a clear glimpse of how the enemy works in Matthew 4:

You see, Jesus stood at the highest point of the temple...and Satan whispered to him, "Go ahead-jump! If you're REALLY God's son...he'll save you."

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Matthew 4:5-6

Obviously, Jesus didn't fall for it...even after forty days of fasting. (I fall victim to the enemy right after a full meal...my faith has a LONG way to go) You see, the enemy isolated ONE promise of God and tempted Jesus to cast His whole life upon it. There are times when the enemy will isolate ONE situation, trial, tragedy, in our lives and tempt us to place the entirety of our faith on it. He says, "If God is with you...where is He? If God is for you...why are you suffering? If God says He'll deliver you...why doesn't He?" The enemy tries to convince you that you need "proof" from God that He is who He says He is...and leads you to believe that He must prove it when you demand Him to. The enemy tempts you to believe you need a "relevant," "current" miracle, in order to prove that God is with you.

So, the question is, "How do we respond in times when the enemy is tempting us?" Jesus showed us we should do one thing and one thing only...turn to God's Word and battle the enemy with the whole Truth and NOTHING BUT the TRUTH!

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Matthew 4:7

Your life might be spinning out of control...but God says, "Trust Me." When the enemy tempts us to ask the question, "Is God with me or not?" ...we must realize that it's a sin to doubt God's presence; we're not to question whether or not He's with us. Our faith says, "HE IS!" As we've cried out in prayer, we're not to worry about how God will answer, and we're not to be downcast if the answer is not in sight. We're to commit our heart of faith to God and walk confidently forward with our eyes fixed on Jesus...the author and finisher of our faith. He is all we need through the most desperate times of our lives...if we need more, God will not withold it. (Psalm 84:11) HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH! No matter what, we are to have faith in God's faithfulness.
 
In those times when you're standing too close to edge and you're ready to give into doubt, step away from the edge by grabbing hold of your faith...turn back to Jesus...remember the ways that God has rescued you in the past-He has. Don't tempt God...He is faithful...stand upon His Promises in your life...keep seeking after Him with all of your heart and soul.
 
Know this: If you're following Jesus, you will be tempted, just as He was...faith in God will bring you to the edge...everytime. Draw your strength from Him...His mercy, love and grace are abundant...He'll be there to carry you when you're too weak to go on. And just in case you fall...He'll be there to catch you...you just need to trust that He will.