I enjoy watching the real-life prison programs. My graduate degree was in the study of cultures so the prison culture is fascinating to me. One thing I have noted is inmates, who have served lengthy sentences, often their entire adulthood, are fearful when their parole and release date approaches. When asked about this apprehension, the common response is, “I know how to survive in here, but I don’t have a clue how to live in the world out there.” Some will even commit a violation hindering their release. Others will get out and commit a crime in order to return to prison. The change from imprisonment to the unknowns of freedom is frightening. It will require learning and adapting to new a surrounding.
Any change—change of locations, change of jobs, change of churches and especially the change from a life of sin and bondage to the joys and freedom of Christianity—involves learning and adapting. One of the most challenging individuals I tried mentoring was a young man who was extremely introverted and lived his entire life in a fantasy world, in his mind. He was a drug addict and involved in the occult for many years. I hauled away a truckload of books and CD’s he accumulated in these practices. After a year of discipleship, I convinced him to attend Bible College. He was doing well his first semester, but then, he became frightened of the person he was becoming as a new man in Christ. He was doing and experiencing life, as he had never known it. Instead of being introverted, he became out going and enjoyed people. He began sharing his testimony with total strangers, and many other normal changes that happen in the new life as a Christian. However, all the change made him fearful of what other changes might occur in his life in the future. Despite my assurance that the LORD had a great plan for his life and would never do anything to hurt him, he refused to trust God and eventually returned to his former life.
Change requires doing things different. Doing life different requires learning and adapting, and trusting God. As Christians, we should not ever stop changing as long as we live—this is spiritual growth. However, I know many believers who changed just enough to be comfortable and then settled down. People can become fearful of the unknown of following Christ to the next level.
Our relocation to a new city, new career, new home, etc. was a bit intimidating at times. At an age when most America’s are retiring, God has lead us into an entire new phase of life. Had we embraced the fear and told ourselves we were comfortable, so why take a risk and move, we would still be living in our old house doing “same old, same old” for the rest of our lives. God had different plans and gave us the strength to follow His leading. We are already learning, adapting, and trusting God that He will guide us through this new beginning.
When Israel left Egypt, the only thing the people knew was slavery. Some of them wanted to return to their former life as slaves. They knew how to survive there even with the discomforts of slavery. Leaving the old life into a new life required dependence on God. The previous means of survival were not there anymore. Israel left the daily food rations they received from their Egyptian masters. They had felt comfortable knowing the Egyptians would feed them. In fact, it was tastier than the manna. Now, they must learn dependence on God feeding them.
Two lessons come out of these thoughts. First, new believers are like Israel after they left the slavery of Egypt. If you are new to Christianity, you have left the bondage of sin and God will lead and teach you how to adapt to your new life. It may be frightening, but you will develop new friends, new taste, and new enjoyments. You must leave behind the security of the old life along with the ‘pleasures’ of sin. The Holy Spirit has new and better for you.
The second lesson is for us who have served God for many years. We may be comfortable, but it is not a time to settle down. At age 85 years and having served God 45 years, Caleb was not ready to settle down in comfort. He focused on the land remaining to be conquered. For all of us, regardless of our age, there is a still land to be conquered. Trust God and move out of your comfort zone into a new phase of life.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Do not be afraid to move out of your comfort zone. Trust God to lead you to another level in Him and ministry for Him. He will guide, strengthen, and give you the wisdom you need.