In the movie Bridge of Spies, things began leaning toward the execution of the Russian spy, Rudolf Abel. He was convicted of spying in the United States. James Donovan, Abel’s lawyer, asked the stoic Rudolf: “Do you never worry?” Rudolf’s reply: “Would it help?”
Faith in the now out maneuvers worry and anxiety. Faith knows neither will help. The origin of our faith is God initiated. He finds us. He tags us. Our world collides with His world by divine appointment. Bingo! We find Him and tag Him as our Savior and Lord. Our sin nature is exchanged for His divine nature. Then the race of faith begins, not to obtain faith, but to follow through with what God has authored. In light of our redemption, worry and anxiety become old school and obsolete, or at least they should.
When life throws us a curve ball of worry and anxiety, we don’t have to play ball. They are contrary to the nature of God. His righteousness, peace and joy have been invested in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. His nature comes with expectations beyond what we usually see or feel. Feelings pass unless we pamper them! Pampering them blows them out of proportion. It negates the reality of God’s divine influence and direction in our life. Faith in God should deny worry and anxiety of ownership rights.
The Russian spy knew his future was jeopardized. He had resolved not to worry. In the movie he never caves to the pressure of the odds stacked against him. It is the spy’s calm and nonchalant presence that plays the devil’s advocate against the lawyer’s anxiety and panic. It is those words “Would it make a difference?” that leaves me challenged. Perhaps, you as well.
Faith in the now should maintain the spy’s calm. By faith in God’s Word it follows that we have power to change the way we process what would otherwise cause us worry and anxiety. By God’s Word we can effectively transform our intellect, feelings and understanding. Faith in the now is a game changer. Paul confronted the Philippian believers to reroute their worry and anxiety. Why? Because the future of the Church depended upon it. It still does! Paul wrote:
Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude.
Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.
So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”
Philippians 4:6-8 (PBT)
The Holy Spirit is faithful to remind us that to worry or become anxious does not help. In fact, they push us in contrary directions. But Faith in the now invests in us a reservoir of calm beyond our natural understanding. Why? Because the future of the church depends upon it. So do we.
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