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Living on the Edge

by William Ryzek  
5/07/2012 / Christian Living

When we think of someone 'living on the edge' we usually mean a thrill seeker who takes risks most of us would not. For the more reserved among us, we might think these people foolhardy while secretly envying and admiring their daredevil antics. Others see them as role models and then try to duplicate or exceed whatever stunts that made them famous. Ah, yesfame. That's a powerful motivation for 'living on the edge'; to go somewhere, or do something, that no one else has and then, at the very least, be featured on YouTube or Facebook.

But what if living on the edge was not that extraordinary, even if it encompassed the universe itself, but was merely an entry point into something far greater, beyond imagining even, and when once entered, never ended but only grew larger? What if creation itself, the seen and the unseen, is just a kingdom's furthest outpost bearing the symbol of ownership by a King whose ways are beyond finding out?

Job 26:14 (for the best result, read vv1-13)

14 Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?"

This is where Christians live, on the edges of His ways and since the edges of God's ways are beyond imagining, what must the inner circles be like? Well, we've been invited to explore this land by its King, even become its citizens. But, what if this land is wild and untamed, even dangerous and requires that we 'change our ways' to adapt even more than we already have? What if once deeper in this realm, we can't turn back or the King requires even more from us? Fearing this vast Unknown many ignore the invitation and chose to remain amongst familiar surroundings and serve a rather domesticated God, a God who is no threat to them. They have Him safely and securely tucked away where He can be called upon when needed but otherwise doesn't interfere with their affairs; unless, of course, He wants to bless them, which suits them fine.

And Indeed He does for without His blessing we would all, saints and sinners alike, be reduced to ashes. But according to some prominent preachers blessing us is all He wants to do, to enlarge us, prosper us, and insure our happiness. These preachers are a bit like Job's comforters who waxed eloquent about God's nature, His will and His ways but didn't really know what they were talking about; these preachers, much like Job's comforters, personify the theologically challenged and are, in fact, dangerous.

In Job 26 Job gives a litany of God's great power and His ways in creation as a rebuke to his comforters declaring that in the end whatever we know of God is only the tiniest part of something bigger than we can grasp. We should, then, speak with humility, not pride or arrogance, for we know only the edges of His ways. Even His word to us is only a slight whisper, or a faint echo, and if a whisper is beyond our capacity to fully comprehend, what, then, of His thunder? The few times Israel heard God's voice like thunder it struck so much fear in their hearts that they recoiled from His presence and sought the protection of Moses.

So, what's the point? If we are going to speak about God we must speak with a great deal of humility and we must, as much as is possible, know Whom we're talking about. The first requires a strong sense of our finitude and the second an ever expanding theological acumen. Neither of these will happen apart from first acknowledging that He of Whom we speak is beyond finding out yet desires we know Him and, second, daring to leave the edges of His ways to pursue Him as the deer does the water brook "in a dry and thirsty land" going ever further in and farther up and never looking back. For us, then, the real risk is not living on the edge like our daredevil friends, but living in the depths of God ('exploring the land' mentioned earlier) where our hubris is diminished so He can fill us with Himself Who is all wisdom, knowledge, glory and power. Living like this may never get us into Facebook or Youtube but our names will be listed in the Lamb's Book of Life.

William Ryzek, PhD has been both a pastor and academic for several years. He has published articles in various magazines and newspapers. He can be reached at [email protected]

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