WHAT WOULD YOU DARE TO DO IF IT WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO FAIL?
By: Rev. J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv.
Matthew 11:28-30 New Living Translation (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Last Friday night at a men’s meeting, I asked a question; “What would you dare to do if you knew it would be impossible to fail?” The answers were varied; given all those who died and missed the mark another chance; starring in the NBA (one of our young attendees); play his instrument at Madison Square Garden; preach a sermon. From impossible to reasonable, but the truth is that they are all achievable, to one degree or another. The key is to uncover, become, and live out your purpose in life.
Jesus was responding to the men that John the Baptist sent to Him to ask if He was the “one, or should they expect another?” After explaining to them several things in this 11th chapter, He concludes by saying that they were not designed to carry their own burdens. Through these words, we too are encouraged to take His yoke instead of our own because His yoke is easy and His burdens are light. When we carry our own load, we are in violation of His will. When we’re out of His will, we worry and we are fearful, we think wrong, we act wrong, we do wrong.., because we are wrong.
Liberation from the burdens and bondages of life are in His yoke and His burdens. There, He says, is where He will teach us and give us rest. Rest denotes freedom.., freedom from worry, freedom from fear, freedom from sinful thoughts, freedom from sinful acts, freedom from wrongs that we do and those done against us. It may or may not happen right away. You might still experience what seems like a heavy load after you have given your burdens to Him. You might even still walk in darkness. Then, the question arises, ”How long do I have to walk in this darkness?” In John 8:12, Jesus says, “.., I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” Here’s your answer; walk with Him long enough so that the darkness no longer scares you. Walk with His long enough so that you can see in the dark! Then, your apprehensions will turn to confidence, your fears to faith. When you take His yoke and give Him yours, you will become the person you were intended to be long before the beginning of time. You will become fearless!
While it is impossible to give those who have already died a second chance at glory, that gentleman can help those who are yet alive to make the right decision before its everlasting and too late. That young man can play in the NBA, but even if he doesn’t, he can be a star in his own life and in the lives of all those around him. Playing at Madison Square Garden and preaching are well within the grasp of the other two men. What they all need to do is be who they were created to be. When they do that, the doing becomes easy. They were designed for greatness! They were designed for success! They were designed to be blessed and they were designed to be a blessing!
What would you dare to do if it were impossible to fail?
Be Blessed
Rev. J. Loren Russell, BS, MDiv is President/CEO of The JLR Company, and an associate minister at both Goodwill and Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio (internet), Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. http://tobtr.com/s/7436671, or by phone at 626-226-1448.
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