Every once in a while, my wife and I go on a “quest.” We’ll be out shopping for something – a new bedroom set, a certain brand of bread yeast, a movie that we would like to have in our DVD collection. It doesn’t matter what it is that we’re looking for, it is just that we decide we’re going to make the purchase but we can’t find it in the first one or two stores we look. So we declare a “quest” to find the item.
I know it sounds kind of silly, but it makes life a little more adventurous and has the effect of bringing the two of us closer together.
I think life was meant to be an adventure. After all, look at the way every day life is usually describe – the rat race, the grind, working in the coal mine – all the opposite of adventure. We long for adventure and excitement.
But we’ve lost sight of how that comes about, so we try to create that adventure for ourselves.
So we have amusement parks, “adventure” clubs that participate in rock climbing, hang gliding, or off-road racing. Then there are those who decide that they are going to have an affair with a co-worker because life at home has become so routine, so boring.
The truth is that all the great adventures were never sought or created – they always came to those who were looking the other way or doing something else.
The shepherd who was the youngest in the family was content to spend his life watching sheep, but he was chosen as king. Later he was just a delivery boy – bringing lunch to his older brothers – and ending up fighting and defeating a giant.
The fisherman who was fine with how his life turned out – spending his days on the lake bringing fish in and selling it. Spending time on the water in the warm sun. But then He came along, said a handful of words and the fisherman’s world turned upside – and then he later turned the rest of the world upside down with his words of good news.
Even our favorite adventure stories are like this. Frodo is just minding his own business and is content spending his days and his life in the Shire. But the Ring comes to him and the adventure that saves Middle Earth captures him. Luke is not so content with is life as a farmer, but doesn’t really have the courage to break away from his uncle’s farm. Then the two droids come into his life quite unexpectedly and he’s caught up in the adventure that will save the galaxy from the evil Empire. Benjamin is quite happy being a farmer, raising his family and occasionally building furniture. But then the Red Coats come, take the life of his son, and he is caught up in an adventure that will found a nation. (These are brief synopsis of the following movies: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; Star Wars: A New Hope; The Patriot).
If we look for adventure, we might find some kind of adventure, but it won’t be the adventure God intends for us. It won’t be a true adventure, for that only comes from God. Therefore, we need to seek God and not seek adventure.
Solomon, son of King David, was admonished to do this.
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
Solomon didn’t go looking for adventure, he sought the Lord and wound up in a great adventure.
In his later years, Solomon strayed from this and it cost him dearly, but the lesson was passed on to descendents, so that generations later, Asa was king and was given the same exact advice.
The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:1-2
Asa also had a great adventure as King of Judah, not seeking his own way, but God’s way and was blessed greatly.
Are you looking for a little adventure in your life? Seek the Lord and you will find the adventure of your life and life will never be the same – it will be better!
©2009 True Men Ministries.
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