Adventure
I have a best friend – thirty-four years of best. We don’t see each other often but long ago she started saying she couldn’t wait for our next adventure.
I wonder if Jesus’ disciples thought the same way. With Jesus, life was anything but dull. Always the unexpected: one day sight restored, another a small lunch multiplied, but nothing like the day each first encountered Him.
That moment is forever life-changing, intimately personal. For each of us there’s the similarity of ‘I was going about my business and then I was no longer the same person’. “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” (Colossians 3:10 NLT)
As we head into the few weeks before the celebration of Jesus’ birth and the miraculous gift He is to the world, it occurred to me the word Advent and adventure have a lot in common. Advent is the anticipation of the Savior’s arrival on earth. Two thousand years ago it was the fulfillment of prophecy, to bring about a way for mankind to be set free from evil.
Now we anticipate once again Christ coming to earth. This time His coming will be different. He will not come in the form of a servant; He will not be coming to redeem lost man. He’s done that, completely, once for all. No, this time He will be coming in power. Removing from the world all who have chosen Him – and destroying all that is left. “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14:3 NLT)
This time of year if our focus is about a babe in a manger or gifts under a tree, we lose sight of what He came to show us. The Light of the world came to dispel darkness, to make clear the way to eternal life, to begin the believer’s eternity.
We can’t ever live the same again. But there’s a whole hurting world out there in desperate need of Jesus. Not to cure them of ills, or provide food in the famine, or restore bank accounts. Those are all temporary. Yes, to the extent we can ease another’s suffering, we should. But without the sharing of the Light, they remain in darkness, forever lost.
Maybe our Christmas ADVENTure is to bravely share Jesus – anticipating all that He will do if we will step into the greatest adventure ever: God with us! Emmanuel! “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2 NIV)
parisrenae 
Yes, let’s take the adventure Jesus puts in today’s path!
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Yes, right there with you – this day’s adventure…blessings as you wonder!
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Amen! I’ve never thought about the root of adventure being advent before! May we share the advent and the adventure of Jesus with those who seek and hurt.
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We should celebrate Advent every single day!
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What a great idea! For He is always surprising us with abundant love and mercies…blessings as you ADVENTure with Him!
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Beautiful post, Paris. “Maybe our Christmas ADVENTure is to bravely share Jesus – anticipating all that He will do if we will step into the greatest adventure ever.”
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Thank you and blessings to you and yours during the days leading up to Jesus’ Happy Birthday.
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I appreciate the pairing of Advent and Adventure, Paris. And this is a truth worth being reminded of today, “But without the sharing of the Light, they remain in darkness, forever lost.”
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Yes, and that is deeply tragic and sad. As Light bearers we cannot rejoice in any, even the most vile, never finding the light. As you venture with God may His Advent bring light to those around you. Blessings…
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