"Without risk, there's no discovery, there's no new knowledge, there's no bold adventure. The greatest risk is to take no risk." These words were spoken by June Scobee Rodgers, whose husband, Dick Scobee, was the commander of the space shuttle Challenger. She was speaking at the twentieth anniversary of the explosion of the Challenger, which killed her husband and six other crew members.

It seems to me that her words say something important about God, also.

Many of us are called by God. We are called to follow him and be a part with him in bringing to pass his will and purposes for this world. It’s an exciting prospect, and the ultimate high calling. And yet, many refuse. Many draw back, shaking their heads, finding an endless array of reasons to tell God no.

But the bottom line is this: God is risky. And following a risky God is equally risky. And risk scares many of us right out of our shoes. But it should not be so.

In the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis created Aslan the lion. Aslan represents Jesus. Some of the characters deeply love Aslan, and others shy away from him. The reason? It’s simple: Aslan is not safe. He is a lion, after all, and lions are not safe.

Lewis makes a great point. A safe God is not God. A safe “God” is something we can control and make conform to our likes and dislikes. We need to face the fact: The God of the Bible is not safe. The God of the Bible is risky, and following him requires a lifestyle of risk.

But it’s our option. We don’t have to go. God never forces us to follow him, or to say yes to him. We can say no any time we choose. But not without consequences. All of our decisions have consequences.

We can choose the sort of life we live: One that is interesting, deeply fulfilling, and rich, but that requires taking risks. Or one that is safe. The one that is safe offers us security and control. But it will be boring, unfulfilling, and spiritually impoverished.

In the quote above, June Rodgers makes a very good point: "Without risk, there's no discovery, there's no new knowledge, there's no bold adventure. The greatest risk is to take no risk." Without risk, we will never truly know God. We will never discover his glory and goodness. Without risk, we will never truly know ourselves. Without risk, there is only a life devoid of adventure, and ultimately impoverished.