For years I chose not to participate in God adventures by simply not choosing at all. That’s a decision, too. Not choosing is a choice.
When we steadfastly close our hearts to God’s invitations, when we neglect to acknowledge His presence in our lives, we’re pretty much living in an “ego” mode, Edging God Out simply by staying in the center of our own universe. After years of living that way, it becomes more and more difficult to see things from a bigger perspective.
I think we’re born staring at our navels and continue to live that way until we hear the voice of God speak to us in some fashion, through some channel or avenue, and we say yes to a deeper walk with Him. Now that might sound soft, warm, and spiritual, but it can be very frightening. It’s not without a price tag. But the blessings; both here and in the world to come far, far outweigh that price tag. And once you get a taste of walking with Him, living with Him, hearing from Him, and being empowered by Him, nothing else will ever satisfy you again.
One More Thing
Perhaps as you read these words, you’re thinking, This sounds good. A God adventure may be just what I need in my life. Then again, the thought of adding “one more thing” to an already overcrowded schedule might strike terror in your heart. You may already feel on the verge of losing control to a schedule that is trying to swallow you alive.
It’s true that as believers we war against principalities and powers in the spirit realm and I would never make light of that. But we also war against cell phones, fax machines, deadlines, homework, sport schedules, and a seemingly endless list of commitments and distractions in our lives. It is so easy to get in the mode where life runs us, rather than the other way around. It’s all going by so fast that we can almost feel the wind on our faces as time flies by.
If I could give a peek inside my apprehensions and worries, this one rates pretty high. I don’t want to go through life having my life live me. I want to stand fully in the midst of it all on the rock of Truth and make choices that cause my life to matter.
Yes, it’s a constant battle. But I can tell you this: If the pace and busyness of life has overwhelmed me to the point that I can’t respond to the call of God or even hear His voice something has gone terribly wrong. Perhaps the reason some of us never hear the summons to a God adventure is because we never give Him a minute of our time. He can’t get a word in edge-wise. His still, small voice is drowned out by turmoil and noise. The psalmist writes of a proud, arrogant individual who was so full of himself that “in all his thoughts there is no room for God” (Psalm 10:4). May that never, never be said of me!
No room for God?
No heart for God adventures?
Why else are we here?
Why else are we alive?
I think it must grieve God so deeply that He has prepared such an incredible journey and adventure for us during our years on earth, and so many of us choose not to tap into it. Sometimes we treat God as if He’s there for our convenience as if He’s some kind of celestial Santa Claus.
Most of us probably have enough drama in our lives to make a great TV reality show but can you even imagine seeing and experiencing what Moses did? Talk about an adventure and one that’s better than any spine-tingling movie in 3-D. Just to get a glimpse of the glory of God and all those miracles would be too much to behold. What about Abraham who met two angels of the Lord and left all that he had ever known completely behind going to a place he’d never seen before and called by a God he’d never known. Adventure is interwoven throughout the Bible and there are a lot of good things that come from it and a lot of bad things. If God is going with you, then your adventures will be more good than bad, even if bad things happen along the way. Those who walk with God are pleasing God and not going ahead of His sovereign plan for their life and not lagging behind His will for their life. Adventure can be good or it can be very bad. The vital component is whether God is with you and Christ is in you as you go through life, which is an adventure enough in itself.
