My wife and I hiked up to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) in Stavanger Norway a few years ago.
The 2.5 hour uphill hike was a small price to pay for the grandeur—a mere trifle actually. The breathtaking view of the water 2000’ feet below, and the panoramic view of the fjord stretching eastward was almost enough to make you say “Give me a wingsuit!”
That boat is a full size ferry boat carrying vehicles, just to give you some perspective.
Seated next to our new Romanian friends on top of the rock, we had a meager Americanized picnic, Gatorade and a Snickers bar apiece (hey, it was recommended by the hotel clerk). Afterwards, I walked over to the edge and discovered an iron bar fastened into the rock surface. Hanging onto the ring with my right hand, I sat down and dangled my feet over the edge, like a good roofer should do. I was profoundly impressed with the view, and a German fellow was profoundly unimpressed with my lack of concern for heights. I can still hear him shaking his head and muttering “Heiliger Strohsack!” which properly translated is “Holy Strawsack!!”
There were no warning signs on Pulpit Rock about the height, the edge or the danger of falling. No lawyer-inspired safety chains encumbered the edge perimeter. In America you can get fined $1400 by OSHA for getting within 72” of a roof edge that is only 96” off the grassy earth, for Pete’s sake (don’t ask how I know that).
As in most of Norway, there was an unspoken vibe of common sense on Pulpit Rock. Sorta like “If you are stupid enough to fall off the edge you will die on the rocks below and be eaten by a troll. Have a nice day.” We had an awesome day.
But In America
A friend from another country once asked me why schools in America looked like jails. I got mildly defensive, but I knew what he meant. Bleak corridors, colorless rooms, barred windows, lack of fresh air, metal fences around the building — nothing about our schools was “cozy,” the word that describes most schools in his home country. My Scandinavian friend’s advice to America: “Chill out.” He thinks Americans are too fearful.
Well yes.
Then there was the outdoor hot tub at our hotel in Seattle with a sign that reads “No Lifeguard On Duty,” followed by a long list of all the things that could go wrong while you’re “enjoying” yourself. Like many inner-city schools, the hot tub was also surrounded by a jail-like fence. This obsession with warning signs, slapped on every beverage and every piece of equipment, follows us from state to state, and from city to city. I know it’s that way for you too.
Fear
To an outsider, this much is obvious: America runs on fear. You’d think in a wealthy and democratic country people should be happy. Instead, we spend a lot of time worrying about things that could go wrong instead of just, you know, enjoying life. Everything, from unleashed dogs to slippery sidewalks, Russians, and unmasked neighbors is a potential threat to an American, on a personal or national level. It seems that no one is ever safe here. While a lot of it has to do with fear of litigation, liability is far from being the only cause of paranoia in the U.S.
Television can cause people to experience more anxiety and depression. From Carol Lieberman M.D. to Science Daily to studies in 2010, 2014, 2019 to the University of Pennsylvania, and the Calm Clinic, the verdict is in. Television makes people more anxious and fearful. There is a simple cure. Turn it off. And then throw it out.
Living Life Comes With Risk
Whether it is standing on top of Pulpit Rock in Norway with no safety ropes or flying 9.5 hours across the ocean in a metal tube, risk is inherent in human life. All good adventures come with risk.
But as our lives in the US have gone more virtual and sedentary we have become safety obsessed. We are willing to sacrifice so much in the name of safety. As a culture we are obsessed with liabilities and guarantees of safety. We demand absolute safety from our political and social leaders and on work sites.
While the Amish are building entire pole barns in 48-hours, most of us are sanitizing our lives and the lives of our kids from experiencing any danger. We box things in, wall things off, and expect safety at all costs. We are even willing to sacrifice our personal liberties and freedom of choice if it means we have a chance to be safe. Thus the mantra “Safety first”.
That’s not to say some generation back in 1897, didn’t have lives that were super dangerous, like working in mines setting off dynamite for a living. They definitely had an element of risk going on (even though it sounds like a cool job). But somewhere between the alpha-male trades of our grandfathers and the hand-wringing timidity of the safety-first crowd is a balance of personal freedom, trust in God and practical caution.
Covid
As I considered this in terms of Covid last year, the metrics continued to change. At first, it was taking a few weeks to prepare health officials to get things in order in hospitals. Then, we were told we needed restrictions because people were dying. Then, when death rates dropped drastically and we learned that most of the population had a 99.8% chance of survival, the focus went to cases and the elimination of cases. Politicians and health officials started to mandate and require more and more in the name of “Safety first.” Lockdowns, crowd restrictions, masks, sanitizing, plexiglass, distancing; the list goes on and on. Millions of dollars were spent, confusing rules were invented, and restrictions that may or may not help were enforced. But whenever anyone would ask a question, the consistent theme was “safety first” and why would you be so cruel as to “put someone else in danger?” Common sense was replaced by the ‘common good.’
My friends, life will never be truly safe. And sorry to say, it never has been before. Every day of your life you make risk assessments about what you choose to do.
We have to decide if life for us is going to be about “safety first” or if there are some noble things in life that require us to put safety further down the list. I say safety third, not safety first.
The Real Warning
Fear God and give glory to Him (Revelation 14:6). This is it. This is the only fear for believers in the time of the end.
Fearing God means to hold Him in awe. It is living life knowing that your citizenship is in another country, a better one than America, Belarus, or France.
It is walking with the King daily, mindful of Him, not human fads around you. Giving glory to Him is loving Him supremely. Love and gratitude are huge emotions, and the Lord is the only One big enough to receive it all. Anything else that we shower maximum love on is an idol. Tear it down, and direct your affection to the Almighty Creator and Ruler of all. Do it now, friend.
And don’t fear the world, the culture, other people, the future or life itself. Whatever makes us afraid controls us, and God alone has the right to control something as magnificent as your life. To each of us He says “Fear not, little flock...” (Luke 12:32). The reason it is a ‘little flock’ is because the majority has loved the world (1 John 2:15—17), loved darkness (John 3:19), and loved a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
This includes so-called Adventists who look good on the outside and are rotten on the inside (Matthew 23:27). Fear is an appropriate response to God’s judgment upon them (Hebrews 10:27). Their fallen banners will be picked up by honest-hearted children of God from every tribe, every nation, and every religion. These incoming souls will become an essential part of the Remnant, fearing only disobedience and loving Him supremely. Let us strive to be among them (Hosea 6:3).
Conclusion
You are loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
The fearful won’t be in heaven (Revelation 21:8).
The willfully evil won’t be there (2 Timothy 2:22; John 3:20).
The proud will see their houses torn down by God Himself (Proverbs 15:25); for the Lord Himself will fight against them (Isaiah 63:10; James 4:63).
The humble and thankful will be in heaven (Psalm 100:4).
The righteous will dwell with God forever (Psalms 1:6; 5:12; 34:15, 17; 37:29, 39; 140:13; Proverbs 12:7; Isaiah 26:2; Matthew 13:43; 25:46; Romans 8:4; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 3:12).
If the risk is little, the reward is little.
Put the Lord first.
Put safety third.
And “Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace” (Job 22:21).
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