A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers   

Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  The African impalapossesses an incredible jumping prowess.  This splendid creature can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet this magnificent animalcan be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a simple 3-foot wall.  How can this be?  Incredibly, the animal will not jump if it cannot see where its feet will fall.  The impalaleaps only when it can see not only from where it jumped, but also to the place where it will land.  The animal jumpsby sight, never by faith.  Notice our Scripture lesson today.  God’s Word reminds us that “faith,” by its very nature, is not predicated upon what is seen, but on what is unseen.  Like the African impala, we mostly, as humans, prefer to be able to trace our steps (or our leaps) from the known, into the known; from sight into sight; from where we know we presently are as judged by our senses and human reason, into the next arena that likewise can be verified by our senses and reason as well.  Yet this is the antithesis of “faith.”  Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.  Imagine; a strong, agile animal restrained by a mere 3-foot wall—or rather the fear that the 3-foot wall engenders.  As preposterous as that may seem, especially in contrast to the innate ability the impala possesses, yet we, who are created in the image of God, are often restrained by far less barriers.  The key to achieving our potential is to look beyond what may produce fear, and, by faith, go above and beyond your present limitations.  You will never know just how far you can go, until you transcend your present state.  The dreams you currently carry within you, have been placed there by our heavenly Father as a benchmark for you to achieve.  So the challenge today is—leap.  Leap over the wall.  Leap beyond your present confines.  In doing so, you will find, that the God who gave you the ability to do so, will also provide you a solid place to land, into the new ground of opportunities that await by faith, with each new day.

Source:  Preaching & Teaching, Editor Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, p. 78.