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| The Ultimate Adventure by Cadi Nobles |
| “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” Hebrew 2:1,2 This passage has always inspired me. It shows the journey of a Christian. Not a momentary commitment, or a feel-good religion, but the course that is plotted for our life span. We begin our journey by “laying aside.” One of the first discoveries that any new Christian makes is that he has become a “new creature in Christ.” Old habits and sins that might have once been taken for granted, suddenly begins to condemn us. It is the infant “Christ” being born within us that notices these things. To veteran Christians it seems almost uncomprehensible that certain activities or habits might never have bothered us before. I am reminded of the testimony of a former cannibal, raised in a small village in a remote jungle. For various ceremonies and after village conflicts, the entire village would indulge in cannibalism. It was a “treat” and not an everyday occurrence, but was as much a part of the “norm” as eating and sleeping. It is hard to imagine perhaps, but the practice of cannibalism was never questioned. Right and wrong was never considered in the matter, no more than we might consider our moral standing on eating turnips! In God’s perfect time, our villager was converted to Christianity by a missionary that visited a local village. It was a “quick” conversion and the missionary had to move on. He left only a Bible to guide the new convert in his faith. Not once did the missionary mention cannibalism in any way, positive or negative. As the villager began studying his Bible in earnest, a sense of conviction quickly came to his soul. He learned, like we all do, that his soul was no longer his own. He was “bought with a price” and his actions must mirror the wishes of his new Owner. Old things must pass away, including cannibalism. Our cannibal, all alone in a remote part of the planet, discovered the wonderful gift of a Christian conscious. Just like you or I, his views of normal had to change with the new influence. He was “laying aside.” Perhaps it sounds overly simple. A clear example of obvious wrong, but keep in mind that our old sins were just as obvious to Christ. Wrong is wrong. There are no gray areas in the Word Of God. To “lay aside” cannibalism is no more simple or clear-cut than “laying aside” worldly music or dress. These things are just as evil to a perfect Creator and no sin, no matter how seemingly innocent, is counted innocent by God. We were all born with a death sentence. The plan of salvation is the same for all, because the same debt is owed by all. These sins that we lay aside are the ones that “so easily beset us.” “Beset us” would mean hindering our walk in Christ. Not being able to obtain a more perfect relationship with our Creator because of some sin that we are unwilling to lay aside, is a serious act of disobedience. It tramples the plan that God has for our lives, and causes much of the heartache that Christians experience. As we make small mistakes, we can suffer from discouragement. Much like the lifetime soldier might suffer battle fatigue. Here, “running with patience” is a necessity. We must keep going forward. Not walking, but running. We are in a race for our lives and every moment must be tempered with patience. At the same time, we need to recognize the limits of our humanity. We have a short life, just a “vapor,” with which we can glorify God. This is our chance. Losing cannot be an option. So how do we perform all of these “Christian heroics?” We “look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” He is the perfect example. And we are assured that “he which hath begun a good work in you will preform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). God is faithful. He did not create a creation that He is unable to save. Our author is fully capable of finishing the story that He has begun. We are works being wrought on His wheel, our vessels simply must be pliable and conformable to His desires. We must look to our potter often, to see exactly what he would change next. A Christian’s life is not stagnate. We are on a journey. Things change and people change around us. Life forces us in one direction or another, but through it all, we must keep pressing toward the mark. “The mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). This is the Ultimate Adventure. |
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