To Jump or Not to Jump? That is the question.
For my entire life, I have heard the expression “leap of faith.” However, this phrase cannot be found anywhere in scripture. No doubt, there are times when we take actions in faith, that might seem on the surface as reckless or something like jumping off a tall building—for instance, Esther going before the King Xerxes uninvited, David challenging Goliath, or Abraham offering up Isaac. The potential was assuredly destruction, but ultimately for God’s providence. However, should we really call them a leap?
There was an instance in the Bible when Jesus was tempted to “take the leap,” but not by God. Consider the temptation of Jesus described in Luke 4:9-12. The devil took Him to the pinnacle of the temple, told Him to cast Himself down, because according to Psalm 91:12 (which the devil was quoting), the angels would save Him. Jesus refused and in turn quoted Deuteronomy 6:16, which states that we are not to put God to the test.
There was an instance in the Bible when Jesus was tempted to “take the leap,” but not by God. Consider the temptation of Jesus described in Luke 4:9-12. The devil took Him to the pinnacle of the temple, told Him to cast Himself down, because according to Psalm 91:12 (which the devil was quoting), the angels would save Him. Jesus refused and in turn quoted Deuteronomy 6:16, which states that we are not to put God to the test.
“And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” And Jesus answering said unto him, “It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Luke 4:9–12, KJV)
If you are going to take an action in faith, with potentially disastrous consequences, make sure God is instructing you to do it or that He has given you specific authority in His Word. I routinely ask God for confirmation before acting, because I want to be sure it is Him and I am not acting on my own. I never act based on someone else telling me what God wants me to do. If God truly wants me to take a specific action, He will reveal it to me. Remember—the devil used scripture out of context to justify taking a leap. He is cunning, so don’t be deceived. It is imperative that you read the scriptures and seek God yourself, so you are not deceived. If God told you to do it, you can proceed with complete confidence, that He will not fail you. However, jumping outside of God’s will can lead to tragic consequences and spiritual disillusionment.
What do I mean by spiritual disillusionment? If we make a bad decision outside of God’s will, we can question why God didn’t honor our faith. We can question why our leap became a fall. We wonder why the angels didn’t bear us up or why God didn’t perform the miracle in the way we asked Him to. It can lead to a faith crisis that some folks simply don’t recover from. The enemy may try to convince us that God doesn’t really exist or that He has forsaken us or His Word is not true. Just as the enemy tried to trick Jesus, he will do the same to us. It is our job to be diligent, educated in the scriptures, and in tune with the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that knowing the scriptures and being filled with the Spirit kept Jesus from making a bad decision.
Also remember that God needs no testing. He has never changed, nor will He ever. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He has never failed at anything. He has never broken a promise. To hold the position that God needs to prove Himself is offensive and stands in unbelief of His character and power. Organizations put new hires through a probationary period to see if they can (or will) do the job. To test the Creator of the universe is not only unthinkable, but we are commanded to not do it (Deuteronomy 6:16). If He said He will, then He will, but not at our command or for our selfish purposes.
Our entire Christian life is built upon faith, from initial salvation to our victory over death. Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the Hall of Fame of faithful people in the Bible, who through outstanding faith, endured the greatest of trials and received unbelievable miracles. The Word of God talks about the “gift of faith,” that the Holy Spirit imparts to us, to believe for the impossible. The “gift of faith” should not be confused with the “measure of faith” that is given to each of us (Romans 12:3). It is true that faith is the key to unlock the power of God; however, the application of faith must be in keeping with God’s written and discerned will before His power is released. Knowing when and how to apply faith to a situation hinges on the knowledge of God’s Word and the application of spiritual discernment.
As I previously mentioned, “leap of faith” is found nowhere in the scriptures. Scripture doesn’t support making reckless and hasty decisions and expecting God to bless them. Rather, that every decision should be measured by its scriptural alignment and Holy Spirit confirmation. Proverbs 3:6 (ESV) says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” David said in Psalm 17:5 (ESV), “My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.” By God’s providence, Esther was prepared “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). David had been anointed King by God, and knew his God-given authority and the Spirit of God rested upon Him. Abraham was instructed by God to sacrifice his only son. These people were not simply casting themselves into the wind, but following the divine guidance of God. Could it be that the phrase “leap of faith” is a grand scheme of the enemy to get us to “cast ourselves down?”
Concerning my initial question of to jump or not to jump: 1) Understand that Satan sometimes tempts us to take actions of faith. 2) We must use God’s Word and spiritual discernment to avoid falling into Satan’s trap. 3) Don’t test God, but instead, trust God. 4) Faith is a powerful tool for kingdom purposes, but it is not to be used indiscriminately. 5) Consider eliminating “leap of faith” from your vocabulary and replace it with scriptural references of direction and faith. And, my final suggestion is to NOT go looking for pinnacles to jump from. Instead walk in the divine calling God has placed on your life. When situations arise, God will be there to give you direction, faith, and victory.
Aaron Lambers is an ordained bishop in the Church of God. He serves on the pastoral staff at Gateway Church, Ashland, KY. He has a passion for God’s Word, reaching the lost, and discipling the next generation. Contact Aaron at pastoraaron@gatewaychurch.cc.
Scripture quotations marked “KJV” are taken from the King James Version, which is public domain in the United States. Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.












