The rewards and prices of One step

I remember reading a story how the 1980’s leader of User Interface Xerox, which had been making lots of researches on personal computers than any other firm in the industry, was overtaken by Apple when they were almost just a step away to release the first personal computer to the market. One step from Steve Jobs of Apple to visit the Lab of Xerox and react to the insight he got transformed the personal computer industry. Being the first to release personal computers made Apple Computers over top (Of course, later on Apple too had been over taken by Microsoft). That One timely step made unbelievable impact on both companies future destiny. The point is, One step inaction of Xerox and One step proactive stroke from Apple in releasing personal computers brought an amazing consequence, a shift of leadership in that industry.

Senator Barack Obama got One offer to make a key note address during the 2004 DNC. That one gesture brought an obscure politician into a national stage. What if he declined that One offer? What if he failed to maximize that One moment? We don’t need to remind you that where he is today started then. However, we shouldn’t give this rise for a chance or luck. He must have shown consistency, dedication, commitment, and excellence before the Party elites trusted him for that One critical day and moment. However, it was his instinct, smartness, and preparation that over utilized that One chance. The truth, for our topic, is that he said yes for One offer and took a step to venture into a national political stage and an opportunity with attached challenge for his age and experience.

Imagine, there could be multitudes of politicians ahead of him with similar age and experience profile, and who were in his circumstances in one way or another but failed to believe, act, and venture. It might be possible that many rejected, declined, or hesitated those One seemingly in disguise offer because of many arguably conviencing reasons and excuses. You already knew that Obama had responded for his friend’s one seemingly improbable advice- to run for presidency. Can you imagine what would have happened if he declined for that one wise and timely advise but loaded with untold challenges and probabilities? Could the Democratic Party enjoyed the enthusiasm in this election if he declined that One suggestion? Think about where Senator Clinton could have been if he declined or hesitated that One challenge posed for him to run against the Party's establishment and face two giants-Bill and Hillary? Think about the various scenarios and make future projections to simulate where that One gesture would take him, his Party, and the US.

You might think- by now that- you are neither an investor, a company, nor even a politician and this issue is irrelevant for you as a Christian. Come on men! Rather, the above two stories help us to question our reluctance to respond in favour of so many seemingly One step opportunities we missed in our Christian life. For that matter, God’s people history on earth is full of responses for a collection of One seemingly improbable step at a time. This awesome history gives sense when we connect those single dots. We can try lots of scenarios to see where history could have taken the world, a particular patriarch, Christianity, Israel and more if those all descent obediences for One commandment was not made, offers delayed, and so on. Let’s ask some simple but the other side of a coin kind of questions and try to simulate the consequences. There is no question that the difference is graphically huge and too wide if the reaction was otherwise.

Here are some 'what if' scenarios: What if Adam could resist that One ego centric enticement from the devil? What if Samson kept away from being ensnared by that One lover from his enemy’s camp? What if Joseph failed into that One trap of his master’s wife sexual temptation? What if David refused to take One lunch to his brothers who were in the war zone by giving many excuses that might be legitimate considering his age? What if he trusted the armors of King Saul and accepted his One military uniform offer? What if David bowed down for that One intimidation from his brothers who insulted him as a prideful and arrogant boy?

What if Marry doubted that One incredible news from the Archangel Gabriel? What if Joseph failed to obey that One order to take baby Jesus and seek asylum in Egypt? What if Jesus accepted that One advice of Peter to escape crucifixion? What would have happened if Jesus accepted that One offer from Pilate to speak and avoided crucifixion? What if Saul and later Paul refused to obey that One voice of Christ from Heaven? The question continues. By now, you might have wondered where the world and Christianity could have been if those great personalities couldn't make those One actions that finally gave us great inheritances for us and the coming generation. We don't encourage you to see these examples from thir historic perspective but try to relate with your personal stories. You would have been some where better or worse than today if you have been making otherwise for those decisions, and opportunities you have encountered. The goal is to alarm us how important our action or inaction for One step, offer, challenge is, etc.

The point is, we have been making seemingly simple and silly but a collection of ‘One’ decision at a time, which in turn led us where we are today. We landed where we are now because of those refusals or obedience’s One at a time. Who we will be and where we will end up is a function of how we respond to those One at a time temptations, orders, commandments, offers, and so on. The future is more dependent on our action or inaction, and the subsequent rewards or prices attached to it than any out side force or our knowledge, resource, or connection we have had.

Friend, the above stories are still relevant for your individual life and what you could do and behave in your day to day living. The whole point is to show you how it is important to know where we will be next depend on our response to those seemingly simple One steps at a time. We may benefit or get harmed based on our action or inaction to the challenges and/or opportunities that come our way in disguise of One seemingly simple and insignificant step, decision, action...... The bad news is that there is a reward or a price to pay for each challenges and opportunities. There is no way to live on earth without being accountable and responsive. For that matter, the infamous law-for every action, there is a reaction- still is working as far as we are on earth. There is no free ride but we have One chance, maybe some times more, to shape the destination of the ride. The good news if it is up to us....

This principle of Action-Reaction works in the Bible too. You know the destiny of a guy, from the Bible, who hidden his One talent. He paid dare price for his inaction to trade with it. Do you remember One generous act of a prostitute in Jericho who saved herself and her families life? Of course, we are not here to intimidate you or play fear mongering to scare you to death. We are just trying to be realistic and honest with our friends as we ourselves are always meditating on this issue and pray to get help from God for appropriate and timely action as we are confronted with so many One issue that require obedience, action, reaction, and on time.

Otherwise, our focus is to encourage you to trade with that One talent; render that One help to someone. Who knows where such simple One step may take you the next day when you wake up?! Or take One action to refuse what is wrong so that you may save untold catastrophes against your destiny and/or others. We are here with you, not against you, to inspire you to take that One advice, commandment, offer whose time already due. You might be just one simple step away from the place where you have never dreamed of to land. You might be so close and a phone call away from your dream soul mate. You might be a door knock away to get your next blessing. You might be a prayer and/or fasting away from your next level spiritual enlightenment. Whatever is due, take action and get the reward.