Learning to Risk . . . God's Adventure today

One of God’s “Big 10” values has got to be adventure!
In Genesis we see Adam invited into an adventure on his very first day of life (in a perfect, brand new world)! In this perfect world there was no fear in adventure. But with our natural distrust of anyone but ourselves, we often feel uneasy or perhaps even terrified when God invites us into His adventure.

Last night I was visiting with a couple who greet at our Saturday night service in Vancouver. They’ve been married 44 years, but it looks like they must have gotten hitched when they were 9. They are one cool couple, inside and out. He’s got some killer tattoos (they actually look good on him) and she matches him perfectly! Together they exude a rare joy, and they're are on God’s adventure together. They are a couple who have left the safety of the calm bay and let God take their Viking ship out into open water. The big waves have carried them away from “church people” who go to church to “hear deep sermons” and enjoy their “church music".

After the 5 pm service they said to me, “We live to be a part of a church that is more about lost people (I would add, “people at sea without clear direction") than about those who already have a close relationship with God.” In all their years of “doing church”, they have never seen a church like Living Hope. Last night was no exception; Living Hope opened with three classic rock and roll songs (no worship) and used this as a way of connecting people to the idea that God’s priorities are upside down in relationship to societies. When we did worship via music, at the end of the service, it was so powerful, so clear, because of what Pastor John had shared in God's world.

Perhaps you saw the news clip of the elderly man being hit by a car and no one stopping or coming to his aid for over a minute. People jay-walk across the street, passing within a couple feet of the man. Cars slowed and drove around him; one car even backs up and turns around. No one comes to his aid. Was it Fear or an unwillingness to risk that hardened so many people? God help us in our idol worship to "safety!" (See more regarding this story on Pastor John's blog)

Laura and I have only a few (maybe 50) years to live and nothing has brought us closer to God than risking, moving out of our “safety bay” and into unknown, uncharted waters. (Yes, I’m currently reading a book about early Vikings traveling to Iceland.) We've used up some of our retirement funds, refinanced our home, and worked harder and for less money than ever before - BUT we are so abundantly blessed, so constantly overwhelmed with God's amazing love. In the last four years we've seen more miracles, more baptisms, more lives dramatically changed, more deep friendships established, more joy deep in our hearts than at any other time in our lives. Living in life's calm, protected bay is wonderful. Having our boat moored, connected to electricity, cable TV, and being close to grocery stores is real nice; but worth nothing compared to the open water adventure of God's plan! What is God calling you to risk? If you cut the ropes that keep you moored to the dock and allow God to take you wherever He knows best, you will KNOW Him deeper! No one can tell you what "cutting the ropes" means for you! Cut them, you will know, and then you will see God's plan as He knows best to show it to you.

I was thinking these thoughts and read Oswald Chamber's devotion this morning – Wow, catch this, “If you do not cut the moorings God will have to use a storm to break them and send you out. Launch all on God, going out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened.”

Are you still waiting to see the map before you row out into open water? Do you need to hear a voice from Heaven before you become a Barbarian for Jesus? (Check out Erwin McManus’ book.) There is always a counterfeit for following God’s plan, it’s called “self-manufactured sacrifice.” Israel’s first King chose this “human-doing” sacrifice over risking God’s unknown adventure. We sometimes sacrifice in order to remain the Martyr-Hero, to keep the focus on ourself. The very first murder was all about this (Genesis 4) – Cain wanting to offer to God what he had produced. God invites us to risk and follow His adventure over our own hard work and effort (I Samuel 15:22).

Don’t focus on what you once did for God or how you used to be so close to Him: look to the open water, risk, and let God lead you into a deeper closeness (true knowledge) with Him. What is your open water today? Again, it’s not necessarily someone else’s adventure.

I’m looking and listening right now, because all this week I’ve been tempted to stay moored in the bay that’s so nice, so safe, so full of wonderful shops and restaurants (my own “good life). I've felt fear, the unknown this week. I've prayed for Portland, for people far from God, and my own "safety bays" that God is inviting me to sail out of. So, sharpen your knife, cut the ropes . . . there are far too many "civilized" religious folk. God needs a few more barbarians who will follow him before they see how! Is it fun? Not always. For some, it can mean suffering for a long time. Is it worth it? God's friendship and any adventure with Him is worth everything! Drop everything; your diamonds, baseball cards, and even your nachos -push away from the dock and sail! What your open hands and open heart will receive is far greater than anything we can create or get through human means. Let sail out into open, uncharted water right now!