A call to a wild—and Christlike—faithfulness

Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church

It’s the faith of leap that comes from the leap of faith. That’s what Allan Hirsch and Mike Frost (speaker for Salt in March next year) say is the adventure of living for God.

They reckon, in their latest book, The Faith of Leap, that having taken the leap of saving faith, Jesus’ followers are “required to live with the faith of leap.”

What do they mean? “This is the faith that is willing to leap into service of His unfurling reign in this world, believing that by so doing we are partnering with Him in a cosmic project for the regeneration of all things. . . .”

“We are the people of the ultimate Quest—we are on a wild, and sometimes dangerous, adventure to save the world. This is our story and our song.”

People of the ultimate Quest? This is the call to disciples of Jesus—all disciples of Jesus. It’s “an ongoing, risky, actional, extravagant way of life—a life resonant with the distinctly wild—and yes, Christlike—faithfulness.”

This is about being salt and flavouring the world in Christlike ways. This is like uncovering the light received and letting it shine in dark places (Matthew 5:13-16), or as better explained, it’s for those who have the light “from the Lord” to “live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8, NLT).

But there’s more: “To keep our feet on the Adventure, however, will require staying close to our Founder and Leader, who is Himself the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Alpha and Omega.”

Saving faith and living faith, both are incomplete without the other. The leap of faith and the faith of leap—and the ultimate Quest—only make sense when the focus is on Jesus.

Less about natural talent, more about perseverance

Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church

Australia has a new sporting hero with Sally Pearson’s win in the 100 metres hurdles in Korea on Saturday. It took her only 12.28 seconds from starter’s gun to finish line but 16 years to gain her World Championship gold.

Her journey hasn’t been easy. It began when she was eight years old, when athletics coach Sharon Hannon recognised her talent. Her single mother, Anne, worked several jobs to pay for Sally’s training.

At the age of 14 (2001), Pearson won the Australian under-20 100 metres title. The next year injury interrupted her career. In 2003, she won gold in the 100 metres hurdles at the World Youth Championships in Canada and represented Australia in the four by 100 metres relay team at the World Championships in Paris.

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Pearson tripped over a hurdle and fell during the 100 metres final. During the 2009 World Championships, pain from back spasms impaired her run in the finals—she came fifth.

Most of us probably first noticed her when she won silver at the 2008 Olympic Games. Her excitement and joy? Obvious and replayed time and again on television.

At last year’s Commonwealth Games, Pearson won the 100 metres and the 100 metres hurdles finals but lost the former after a protest (she’d been permitted to run after a false start). Then she collapsed after the four by 100 metres, distraught she may have let the team down when it placed fifth.

It’s obvious Pearson’s world championship win is less about her natural talent and more about her perseverance. That’s the lesson. Few things come without effort.

Whatever race you’re running will take dogged effort to win. It’s worth it, though, just ask Sally Pearson.