For much of my life I’ve been fascinated with sailboat adventurers – more specifically people who sail small boats across oceans. I suppose my interest in them can be traced back to my history teacher who made the voyages of Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake come alive for me. They were real adventurers who thrived on the rush of adrenaline. Their motives and desires were not always noble; indeed, some historians would brand them as privateers, robbers and murderers who sought glory, fame and riches for themselves. Incidentally, both of them ended their days by being executed!
Planning and Equipping for Adventures
The point I wish to make is that they were ‘adventurers’. Before setting off on their voyages they would have planned and prepared for possible eventualities, but they would have had no idea or assurance as to the outcomes of their adventures. In those days of sail the prospects of survival and success for trans-ocean sailors were very poor.
I too have sailed small boats on voyages of adventure – I grant you nothing so daring as the voyages of those Elizabethan sailors, but nevertheless, for some of my *adventures I had no idea how they would end. Like Raleigh and Drake I planned and prepared before embarking on them. I hoped they would end happily, but I could not tell. Thanks to God, all of them ended without loss of eye or limb.
God Equips His Adventurers
By contrast to my uncertainties, God knows the beginnings and the endings of all of our adventures, and what goes on between (Ephesians 1:4, 5). Indeed, He plans them and orchestrates them (2 Timothy 1:9). When He commissions us [Christians] to go forth in His Name, He doesn’t leave us alone (Hebrews 13:5, 6). He equips us with the sword of His Spirit which is the word of God, and He prepares us with the gospel of peace. Above all He gives us His shield of faith and the helmet of His salvation. We are protected by His breastplate of righteousness and we are girded with His truth (Ephesians 6:13-17). He fully equips and prepares us for all eventualities (1 Timothy 6:17).
Missionary Adventurers
Jesus leaves us in no doubt about where we are to go on our life’s voyage of adventure and what we are to do while upon it. He commissions us to ‘make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things’ commanded by Him (Matthew 28:19-20).
By the grace of God our life’s adventure is dedicated to His **glory. We can give Him absolutely nothing (Romans 11:35); for He has all things, and He has made all things (John 1:3). We depend upon Him for everything (Mathew 6:11) .
The Adventurer’s Reward
In His steadfast love and mercy (Exodus 34:6) God has set aside an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11; 1 Peter 1:4) for His adventurers. He welcomes us into His family as His adopted sons [daughters] (Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:4-7) to whom He will bestow rewards (Psalm 62:12; Matthew 5:12; 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
In the Book of Revelation He gives us a glimpse of a new and greater adventure to come. His Word describes the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-22) where we shall have a new beginning and the prospect of a never-ending adventure (John 3:16). The eternal city will be magnificent and glorious – beautiful beyond our wildest imagination. Within it we shall enjoy the most delectable and abundant life (John 10:10) in the presence of the Lord Almighty and the Lamb (Revelation 21:22).
For those who love God there is a very happy ending to this life’s adventure (Romans 8:28).
*Bill’s Log [My cruising logs]
http://bills-log.blogspot.com/p/cruising-logs.html
**The Glory of God
The Biblical Way 