Most men love adventure! Whether it’s the quest to run and complete a 50K, to climb and repel a sheer rock wall, to soar through a canyon like a bird (Wingsuit – Base Jumping Video), or thread the Bonsai Pipeline and all with a GoPro camera, I’m sure each of your have your definition of adventure!
We had the privilege of hosting two men of adventure this past weekend at our local church. One man, Dave, left a comfortable position in West Virginia to move his family without the promise of full financial support to a larger city, Raleigh, North Carolina, to start a church in the inner city near North Carolina State University. The other man, Mike, left the comfortable confines of Florida, doing what he loved, and moved to southern Spain for several years. While there, he learned the Spanish language and helped to plant churches while raising a family of four. Seven years ago, he moved to the Basque country of northern Spain to an area steeped in tradition and a completely different language. Once again, to help a church and serve in an already established ministry among the Basque people as well as other internationals. Both of these men are just ordinary men who have given their lives to Christ, a life of adventure of faith and courage. Trusting daily for the supply of God’s grace and watching the Lord always provide spiritually, mentally, socially, financially, and emotionally.
You want adventure? Give your life as a disciple to completely follow Christ! Jesus said as recorded in Luke 14:26-27, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” A disciple of Christ . . .
- Risks his life for Christ.
- Walks by faith in Christ.
- Lives by the Word of Christ.
- Give his life to proclaim and pursue Christ.
- Goes wherever Christ leads him to go.
- Trusts his life to Christ for now and eternity.
- Suffers and stands for the cause of Christ.
- Learns of Christ “while sitting at his feet.”
- Bears the cross and the reproach of Christ.
- Serves all for the sake of Christ.
- Willingly surrenders his family to Christ.
- Give his all to Christ.
- Lives for the day he will see Christ.
- Prepares for the day when he will stand before Christ.
Now, men, that’s a life of adventure! That’s a life filled with purpose! And your Servant Leader, Conqueror, Shepherd, King, Armor, and Captain of your salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, always leads you in His triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)!! And He records it all on His eternal “GoPro” in order to reward you one day at the greatest moment of your life outside of your personal salvation!
So today, if you are men who have been truly born again (John 1:14; 3:16; 14:6), then let’s join Dave and Mike and live a life of adventure with Christ! The rush of base jumping, kayaking, running, or other extreme sports can be satisfying and fun, but it only last for a short while. Adventure for Christ lasts a lifetime, is every day, and has eternal rewards! Are you ready for some real adventure?
From A Pastor's Heart 