Trust it. Stand on it. Walk in it.
Read Time: 6 mins
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV
A butterfly effect is the concept that something seemingly inconsequential, like a butterfly flapping her wings in Brazil, might ultimately lead to something big like a tornado in China. This idea gives the message that you don't know how big or small the effects of any singular action may be.
An example of this phenomenon can be found in Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria falling in love with Sophie Chotek. Sophie was not royalty like Franz was, so their love was hindered by the social norms of the day. Sophie was not allowed to accompany Franz to official royal ceremonies or events but there was a loophole in these rules. They weren’t allowed to be together during royal ceremonies but they were allowed to be together during military actions. So Franz would often be seen acting in his military capacity, even when it wasn’t necessary so that he could spend time with his wife.
On one of these trips, Franz and his wife Sophie were driving through the city when they pulled up beside one of their enemies who assassinated both of them at point-blank range. This assassination led to the Great War which would be referred to as World War 1, taking over 20 million lives with it. But that’s not all. The effects of World War 1 would create tension, political climate, and poverty in Germany that would become a fertile ground for Adolf Hitler to rise to power and lead to the loss of over 60 million lives during World War 2.
This act of bold and scandalous love performed by Franz Ferdinand led to 80 million casualties. This seemingly inconsequential decision to ride through Bosnia eventually led to world events that would go on to shape history for hundreds of years to come. Butterfly effects by nature cannot be predicted or leveraged beforehand. The future alone knows the outcome of our seemingly inconsequential decisions. Butterfly effects can lean negative or positive but the Bible reminds us that the hand of God works similar to a butterfly effect, the only difference is that it can't help but accomplish the good goals God had planned for it.
I find it fun to study history’s butterfly effects and the fruit of decisions throughout time, but I often fail to truly conceptualize the scope and impact of God's decision to love us. It wasn't just a feeling of love that you could fall in and out of. It was a decision to radically sacrifice Himself no matter what the other parties did or said. Franz's act of loving someone who others would say wasn't good enough for him, led to the death of millions. But God's decision of radical love would lead to the fulfilled lives of billions. We often gloss over the work of Jesus without truly studying the life-giving effects it continues to have. I want you to truly think about this. Because of God’s decision to love you, you have an undeserved right to an eternal, fulfilled, peaceful, and purposeful life. You are joint heirs with Christ which means we have access to everything He has been given. We are free from sin. We don't have to live as slaves to what was tormenting us because someone bigger than us decided to fight our battle for us and let us share in victory. The cross may seem like a small decision but it led to countless blessings that we are living in now. Jesus's coming may seem small but it leads to an abundant life.
This verse paints a picture of how God's word works in our world. We know from the story of creation that as He speaks, anatomy and physiology rush to accomplish His words. As God dreams, molecules invent themselves and fall in line like a trained and battle-ready army. Reality, space, and time shift to fall in line with His wishes. Like rain brings life from high places, God's word brings life that no one can counterfeit. God’s word can't help but flow down and impact everything it touches, changing realities to accomplish His desires. But God’s word isn't simply a mass of thoughts, traveling through the air, touching the ears of inanimate objects and causing them to obey. It’s deeper than that. The Bible says that at the core, Jesus is the Word of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5 NIV
This is a shift for many of us because based on how we were taught, we may view God the Father as dangerous while viewing Jesus as safe. We typically see God the Father as a moody lion with anger management issues in the Old Testament but we view Jesus as a cuddling lamb with a soft voice in the New Testament. However, they are both good and loving at their core, even when you don't understand. And I would implore you to go study that more for yourself. If you need to be reminded that the nature of God is good, line it up with the fact that His word reflects Jesus’ action. You can rest assured that at its core, the will and word of God the Father are the same nature as Jesus. Jesus, the Savior, promised to bring peace and joy to all people, even the outsiders. Jesus, the God who made His home amongst the worst of sinners. Jesus, the Lord, promised to bring an abundant life, rest, and peace. Every word spoken has peace, life, and prosperity at the core. Every thought, desire, and action of the Father is presented and accomplished in and through Jesus.
Jesus accomplished all we would ever need. We are safe, chosen, and full of hope because of the dependable nature of our God. But it's more than that. This isn't just a shallow study of the ability and character of God. I believe many of us are missing out on the identity and life God wants to offer us. A better understanding of the character and power of God shouldn’t just help us trust and praise Him more, it should change how we view ourselves and our lives. Our understanding of God should shape how we live in this world.
If God’s word is good, true, and dependable, that means that we must live like everything He says about us is good, true, and dependable. If we believe that God’s word is good and can’t help but accomplish its goal, what does that do to how we react to hard times?
I remember hearing someone say that David may have thought he was invincible when he fought Goliath. At first, I was confused. But they went on to explain that God promised David that He would be king, and David trusted God’s word. That means that David knew that nothing God led him to was going to kill him before he became king. I believe Joseph was able to have peace while abandoned, falsely accused, and imprisoned because he knew the word God had spoken over his life. If you trust God's word, you need to trust what He says about you.
If we truly believed the word of God was true, dependable, and good, we'd live with a different confidence and expectation. We’d approach tests and challenges with different confidence and outlook when we know how the story ends. You watch the fight scenes differently when you know it's too early in the movie for the main character to die. I remember watching a Netflix show and seeing the main character in the picture for the next episode. Because I knew they were called to more, I wasn't afraid when life looked hard for them in the current episode. You know what God has spoken. Don’t stress over what has already been spoken over. Live like you are the head and not the tail. Date like you are called to greater. You don’t have to settle for anyone below what you're called to. Apply for jobs like you are called to make an impact. Don't shrink back. Walk through the storms of life with your chest out because you know the good things that God has spoken over your life. Respond to opposition with confidence because of what God called you to. When you agree with God's word about you it means that some lifestyles and decisions are below you and your calling. God is good and His word is good. Find peace, expectation, and confidence as you partner with the Word of God in your life.
Below you will see a link to a message I gave about this topic at Shiloh in Cincinnati. Check it out. (starts at 1:28:10)
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