Following Christ and Taking Risks

A life of profound purpose, spent on endeavors of great and eternal value, is often characterized by a willingness to embrace risk. For individuals of sincere faith and sober mind, the journey of following a divine call frequently involves stepping out in faith and undertaking challenging, even dangerous, tasks. This inherent connection between spiritual leading and courageous action is a recurring theme within the scriptures and is vividly exemplified in the lives of those dedicated to a higher calling.

Discerning God’s Particular Will and Embracing Risk

Many believers, particularly in their formative years of faith, grapple with the profound question of God’s specific will for their lives. While God’s ethical and moral will applies universally, the inquiry often delves into how divine guidance manifests in personal vocation and direction. This involves understanding how one is uniquely led by God, and how that path may differ from another’s, ultimately leading individuals to the specific tasks God has uniquely reserved for them.

The current spiritual landscape, marked by a surge of young people embracing faith, raises compelling questions about the stirrings God will ignite in this generation. It is anticipated that this leading will involve taking significant risks, stepping out in faith, and engaging in demanding or perilous undertakings. The question of how one’s life will be invested by God, how His voice can be recognized, and how to obey without error, becomes paramount. Such reflections prompt a deep consideration of how to spend one’s life in ways that avoid the common pitfalls of pursuing fleeting material gains at the expense of true joy and eternal significance.

The Sobering Reality of Mission and Divine Empowerment

The biblical narrative frequently portrays a challenging path for those sent on divine assignments. Jesus’ initial commissioning of His disciples, detailed in the Gospel of Matthew, provides a stark illustration. He prepared them for a mission that was far from easy, declaring, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves”. This imagery immediately sets a tone of anticipated opposition and underscores the cross-bearing nature of following Christ. Further advice to “be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves” emphasizes the need for both shrewd discernment and unblemished character in the face of hostility, as disciples would be delivered to courts and flogged in synagogues. This initial missionary journey was explicitly directed towards the Jewish people, adhering to the principle of “first for the Jew and then for the Gentile,” before a broader global outreach.

Despite the warnings of suffering, this divine sending out was coupled with extraordinary authorization and power. Disciples were empowered to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. This transfer of divine authority, initially given to the Son, was then extended to those He sent. Yet, this power was not without its counterpoint: the promise of resistance. In these moments of adversity, disciples were instructed not to be anxious, with the reassurance that God Himself would provide the necessary words and perform the “heavy lifting” when the time for the real work arrived. This profound truth highlights that while human obedience is essential, ultimate dependence rests on God’s sovereign action. The experience of feeling particularly called to a task or location often signifies the leading of the Holy Spirit, prompting individuals to become risk-takers who step out in faith to accomplish difficult things in challenging environments.

For young people in particular, at a pivotal age when they ponder how God might use them, this principle of risk-taking is vital. It is a beautiful opportunity for God to turn hearts towards things that genuinely matter and possess eternal value, contrasting sharply with lives spent in dissatisfaction and chasing superficial achievements. Therefore, passages such as Matthew 10 serve as a powerful call to reflection for those in their late teens and twenties, inviting them to consider a life marked by divine authorization, suffering, overcoming, and ultimately, seeing great things for God’s glory.

The Cultivation of Wisdom and Innocence

The instruction to “be wise as serpents” speaks to the human element of the divine equation. It necessitates discernment, careful thought, and strategic preparation. This wisdom is not merely intellectual; it involves thorough research, historical analysis, and sociological evaluations to understand the cultural contexts to which one is speaking. It reflects a “grist” of hard thinking, bringing one’s entire mind, not just zeal, to the task at hand. A profound aspect of this wisdom, particularly in discerning God’s voice, is saturating oneself in the Word of God. Spending ample time reading, understanding, and marinating in the scriptures allows one to recognize God’s voice when it speaks to the conscience. This deep engagement with the Bible provides a robust foundation for navigating life’s complexities and discerning divine guidance.

Equally important is the directive to “be as innocent as doves.” This speaks to the unblemished character and integrity required of those who represent Christ. Regardless of one’s specific calling—whether working in a secular profession, translating scripture, or ministering in challenging environments—people observe a believer’s life. The manner in which one walks with God, becoming more like Him, becomes a powerful, indeed essential, proclamation of the gospel. A life that transparently reflects Christ living within is a powerful witness in itself.

The Exemplary Life of Jonathan Goforth: A Missionary’s Journey of Risk and Reward

The principles of following a divine call, embracing risk, enduring hardship, and witnessing abundant fruit are powerfully illustrated in the life of Jonathan Goforth, Canada’s first Presbyterian missionary to China. Born in 1859, Goforth was significantly influenced in his calling by a pastor who exhorted him to give his all for Christ, and by the writings and lectures of missionaries like J.O. Fraser and Hudson Taylor. Taylor, a renowned figure, famously advised Goforth regarding his mission to China: “If you are to go into that part of China, you’ll have to go in on your knees.” This profound counsel underscored the absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit necessary for any work of eternal value, emphasizing that true impact stems not from human might or skill, but from divine power. This reliance on God and the Holy Spirit’s guidance is often described as feeling like divine alignment, where previously closed doors or red lights suddenly turn green, signaling a clear path forward. This sense of “ready, fire, aim” over “ready, aim, fire” reflects a willingness to step out in faith even when many uncertainties remain, acknowledging that God’s calling and risk-taking are inextricably linked.

Goforth’s missionary journey to Hunan Province in northern China was marked by immense personal tragedy and systemic persecution. Shortly after their arrival, a house fire consumed all their possessions. This was followed by the devastating loss of their newborn daughter to dysentery, and less than two years later, their second child, a son, died from injuries sustained in a fall. These profound personal anguishes, exacerbated by their separation from family and familiar comforts, demanded an enduring quality of faith and a deep reliance on God’s call to reassure them they were indeed in His will.

Their ministry, which involved sharing the gospel, teaching, and forming churches, progressed for about a decade until a horrific outbreak of violence known as the Boxer Rebellion erupted. This was a brutal ethnic cleansing movement aimed at expelling foreigners and foreign influences, particularly Christian missionaries, whom the Chinese perceived as undermining their traditional gods. During this dark period, 136 evangelical missionaries and all their children were killed, many by beheading. Additionally, 47 Catholic priests and nuns suffered the same fate, alongside an estimated 30,000 Chinese Catholic Christians and 200,000 evangelical Chinese Christians, who were murdered for their faith. Goforth himself narrowly escaped with his wife and children, having been struck by a sword, forcing him to return to Canada for recovery.

The Path to Glory: Revival and Abundant Harvest

Despite enduring such profound losses and facing the threat of death, Goforth, after a year of recovery and renewed commitment to revival ministry, returned to China. This act of returning to a land that had tried to kill him sent a powerful message of unwavering devotion. Upon his return, the impact of his ministry was extraordinary. He and his wife, Rosalind, engaged in steady, simple preaching, leading to countless conversions. Thousands flocked to their home daily to hear the gospel, often for many hours a day. It is recorded that they baptized as many as 4,000 individuals at one time after a revival. This period, often referred to as the Manchurian Revival, stands as a testament to God’s kindness and mercy, providing Goforth and his wife the immense privilege of being instruments of a great spiritual awakening in China. This harvest has continued to yield fruit for over a century, demonstrating the lasting power of a life yielded to God.

The life of Jonathan Goforth powerfully underscores that following Christ inherently involves risk. However, within that risk lies the path to profound glory for Christ. This glory is revealed when God accomplishes things that would be impossible through timid or withholding spirits. It is through individuals willing to follow Him with the boldness of a lion that God works to bring about an abundant harvest. Such lives, though marked by loss and sacrifice, are ultimately welcomed with special honor into eternity, having invested their lives in matters of eternal joy and significance.

In summary, the Christian faith calls believers to embrace a life of confidence in Christ and courage to act boldly. The leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit authorize individuals to embark on journeys that will inevitably involve suffering, but also promise divine overcoming and the witnessing of great things for God’s glory. This enduring truth invites all, especially young people, to align their expectations with this dynamic reality, pursuing a life of profound impact and eternal value.

This article is adapted from the episode transcript.