Daring Adventure

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller

I must admit, I love the idea of life as a daring adventure. There is so much wonder and excitement to be experienced and I want to be sure to enjoy all that God gives to me. I know there is a great deal of pain as well. I have experienced some myself, but I do not want those moments to become tools of the enemy to steal my joy and the life that Jesus gives.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” There is no doubt that our story has a villain… an adversary who seeks the destruction of our life. He wants to steal our joy because he knows that the, “joy of the Lord is our strength.” When challenges arise in our lives, it is easy to think that is we who failed, or even to question God’s intention toward us. However, when we realize that we have an enemy, we begin to see that there is more to the story than we first thought.

If you’ve read John Eldrich, you’ve likely come across his teaching on the problem of evil. He suggests, and I believe rightly so, that when Lucifer rebelled in heaven, he posed a challenge to the heart of God. In essence, he asked, “Can you trust the heart of God to be good?” That is not a question that can be answered by force. God could simply eradicate evil, but the question would remain.

God’s answer was and is to consistently demonstrate His love. He shows it in the ultimate expression: the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. He also demonstrates it in our lives in so many ways. Daily, He puts flesh to the words of Jesus. Yes, the enemy does come to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus brings us life, not just salvation, but the fullness of life.

Life is a daring adventure, lived out in the presence of Christ. I often think of the disciples as they found themselves in a boat in the midst of the storm of their lives. I am amazed and comforted to remember Jesus’ willingness to speak to the storm and calm it. I also wonder what their experience would have been if they’d said, “Jesus, the Son of God is in the boat with us. Hang on. This is going to be one amazing ride!”

I read of a sign posted near the raft entrance to white-water rapids that reads: “You came for the adventure, so enjoy it.” That is exactly what I am aiming to do. I hope you are too.

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