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Crossing the Rubicon is a cliché indicating one has made an irrevocable decision; that is one from which there is no turning back. The cliché has its origin with Julius Caesar. Caesar was headed south to Rome to battle and seize power. The Rubicon is a river in northeastern Italy. When Caesar and his troops crossed the Rubicon, there was no turning back. It was on to Rome!

Irrevocable decisions are both to be admired and feared. Making such decisions can take great courage. Making such decisions can get one in deep trouble if they are wrong decisions. Many times they can bring great rewards if they are good decisions.

To live is to cross many Rubicons. Not making a decision can be its own Rubicon at times. Many times as we wade through the waters of our Rubicon we emerge to discover we have made a huge mistake. Other times there is the reward of having chosen wisely, and occasionally we discover the decision over which we anguished produced nothing significant good or ill.

What Rubicons have you crossed? Is there one now before you over which you are struggling to decide? Caesar had horses and soldiers to accompany him. His decision to continue south would only be as good as the quality of the troops which he led and the forces that would oppose him.

The Rubicons which you and I pass through do not carry the weight of empire with them. They may affect people in a workplace, family, or an organization to which we belong, but the fate of the world does not ride upon them. Nonetheless, we worry. Some Rubicons we cross, others we decide to stay put.

God knows something about crossing the Rubicon. God crossed a Rubicon. God decided to hang in there with Adam and Eve. Every decision God made to stick with God’s creation, in particular, God’s human creation, was a result of his decision to stick it out with Adam and Eve. There was no turning back.

God decided to let David remain king and called Peter to be a leader in the early church. God decided to be hung with Jesus on a cross. It would seem from scripture God has had no regrets with God’s decisions. God continues to make the same kind of decisions with God’s people…hanging in there for them and with them.

I have learned a long time ago that it is better to make a wrong decision than no decision. Leaders are often those good at making decisions. They do not allow bad decisions to hold them back nor do they spend time glowing in the spotlight of a good decision. They simply move on looking for the next decision.

Leaders can do this. Those who are led can do this. Trusting in God’s decision to stick with God’s creation and God’s people we have hope and faith that God will have our back in any Rubicon we decide to cross.

Think of so many things that loom over us now. Climate change. Environmental issues of earth, water, and air. Gun violence. Hunger and poverty. What is certain is standing on the banks of these Rubicons will not help these issues. We have to first step into the waters and resist the current that would prevent us from crossing. When we have decided wrongly, we cannot give up. We must march on. When we have decided rightly, there is no time to gloat, other Rubicons await. We must not be afraid to get our feet wet. We cross armed with God’s decision to not give up on us. There has been no turning back for God. As a result, you and I can move forward. You and I need not give up on ourselves.