2 Cor 5:12-15:
“If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.” (NLT)

Since the apostle Peter instructs us to prepare our hearts and minds in order to be always ready to give reasons for the hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15), that hope must of course be reasonable. In fact we have numerous examples in the New Testament where believers in God did this very thing. Jesus, Stephen, Apollos and Paul are all shown reasoning through the scriptures, and Paul in his letters made weighty use of reason to convince his readers to hear and obey Christ.

On the other hand, sometimes what we propose seems crazy to others. In Athens, Greek philosophers thought Paul mad when he declared to them the resurrection of Christ. During his incarceration, Paul reasoned with the governor Felix concerning righteousness, temperance and judgment to come. Paul’s persuasion was so powerful that Felix trembled! Later however, when Paul told Felix’s successor, Porcius Festus, about his meeting the risen Christ, Festus thought Paul was mad! (Acts 24:25, 26:24)

Let us be honest. Before some of us understood and experienced what Paul was talking about, we too thought this whole Bible story was a bit crazy. Why should we not now expect outsiders to think that of us as well? On one hand, the evidence of God’s promises and blessings does appear to be clear and obvious. But on the other hand, the things we claim to be true can appear to be really strange to many.

Noah heard voices that instructed him to build a boat. Moses was told by a burning bush to face the most powerful man in the world. Gideon was told to reduce his military forces from 30,000 to 300! David as a young boy was crazy enough to go after a 10 foot tall seasoned warrior with a slingshot!

Then we have the prophets who saw strange visions concerning the future and were often told by God to do daring things.

Eventually, the age of mystical experiences and miracles came to a close, until another prophet came, who challenged His hearers to believe again in wondrous possibilities! He knew that all things were possible with God, and He proved this to be true! A new age of miracles, signs and wonders was inaugurated by Jesus and His disciples which lasted for many years.

From time to time, God will nurture in the hearts of certain individuals and groups the desire to see powerful signs again in the earth that witness to the resurrection of Christ. Any student of Church History might discover that the age of miracles can return as often as God desires.

When I as a younger man, I was a bit crazier than I am today. In fact I went off the deep end a few times in expecting miracles when a problem could be solved in a more practical way. Presently I am feeling the need to be more adventurous and believe again that ALL THINGS are possible with God! Maybe I have accepted too many things without considering that God might perhaps want to show His power in our circumstances.

While it might seem scary at first, living as a fool for Christ is more fulfilling than any other path. It puts us in a place where we more fully trust in Him, and actually deepens our relationship with Him. In another sense it will liberate us from fear, worry, and doubt, as we look to our wonderful Savior and Lord for all things!

When I was a skinny young boy growing up in the Columbus South Side, I was often confronted with my limitations. Maybe that is why I so loved to read about my comic book heroes, like Superman, the Iron Man and Spiderman.

And there were of course my Biblical heroes: David, who killed the giant, Daniel who faced the lions, the prophets, who commanded circumstances by the spoken Word of God. These were not fictional heroes, but real people, along with others …..

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:33-34)

All of these great heroes only pointed to the ultimate deliverer of all mankind, the Lord Jesus Christ! He became the leader of an army of faithful men and women of whom it was said that they turned the world upside down! (Acts 17:6)

The troubles of our world today may seem overwhelming, and this can lead to discouragement, apathy and despair. But there is an alternative. Years ago I came up on an analogy that has helped me greatly.

All of us must admit that most things we are concerned about are things we cannot change. That is the larger circle below. But we all have opportunities to change some things. That is the smaller circle within it.

The second demonstration, however, illustrates what has been proven from all history: If one works from the smaller circle, rather than worrying about the larger one, the smaller one will grow!

It is time we all break the cycle of complaining like so many around us and begin living like our Christian heroes who have gone before! For some of us the middle circle is very small. Maybe the only thing I can change is myself! This is a great place to start. It is to obey God’s command to repent, which means to change my way of thinking! He will give the faith to obey that command if we all just submit to His wonderful Word!