Lessons From Abram

It's terrifying to me how much I relate to this verse.
  
"The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you." - Genesis 12:1

 To even sort of begin to understand how terrifying this is to me you must understand 2 very basic things;
1. My family is, quite simply, the single most important thing in my life. They are my biggest fans, and best friends. Don't mess with them.
And 2. I hate change. it's right up there with sin, Satan, and smashing your toe (which has happened a surprising amount of times since I started my job... my poor toes can't take much more).

I, or rather, my parents have been called to many different places over the years, meaning leaving many different friends and amazing experiences, but opening up the opportunity for more friends and amazing experiences. And I, who as I said before, hates change, definitely had a hard time with that, but in the end, I never resented a moment. I grew a little more each place we lived. And I met AMAZING people.

Well, last year I decided to take the plunge into adulthood and move across the country and into my brother and sister-in-law's house and nanny their 2 most amazing, beautiful kids for them for at least 6 months. I had just started to adjust to the changes when my brother lost his job and found one very close to my family, 2 states away. Taking him and his beautiful family so very far away. I had a decision to make, I could do the terrifying thing, and stay here, far from my family, from the weather I knew (which is a bigger factor than you would think), and all the amazing people I knew, and try and see if I could get a job, and make it on my own. OR I could do the more simple and somewhat easier choice and move back home. I decided to stay.

I have been asked to move and leave a lot of things, but by far, living so far away from my family has been the hardest. I've known more loneliness since living here than I have ever known before.

All this to say, I fully understand exactly what God is asking of Abram, but that's not what's terrifying, what's terrifying is that I hear God calling me as well, "come, My Darling, far from all you've known, to a land you won't know, to a land I will show you."

It's terrifying, it's change. And worse, it's UNKNOWN change.... And yet, it's exciting at the same time, it's an adventure, and though there are so many unknowns, an adventure usually has a purpose, an over-arcing theme, to every story. So if my life is an adventure, then what is the over-arcing theme? Well, if I'm taking it from this verse, it would be to follow Christ, no matter the circumstances. Which, you'll notice, is repeated consistently throughout the Bible...

"Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me." -Luke 9:23

“But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” -Ruth 1:16

"Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"" John 21:19

Following God is amazing in it's own right, I mean, you get a best friend guaranteed never to leave you, you have peace, even at the worst of times, you have Someone and Something to go to when you're lost and need advice (i.e. the best friend), but guys, check out how God promises to bless Abram if he does choose to follow Him;




“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.^" Genesis 12:2-3 

I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty exciting to me! He will bless me, making my name great? And those who bless me will be blessed? Sign me up! 

So the question remains, am I willing to risk it all on a whirlwind adventure into the unknown, trusting that God will catch me if and when I fall? Is the blessing worth what I'm giving up? Is the blessing worth the fall?

C.G.