“My purpose is to give them (my followers) a rich and satisfying life.” – Jesus, John 10:10 NLT
Christians can get trapped into living day to day with no real purpose or pizzazz. Jesus said that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The Christian life is to be an exciting and joyous experience, not only in our dreams, but in reality. We are to be living dynamic, exciting, and abundant lives. Phil Edwards said, “There is a need in all of us, for controlled danger. That is, there is a need for activity that puts us on the edge of life. There are uncounted millions of people right now who are going through life without any sort of real, vibrant kick…” Phil Edwards is not a theologian, he’s not a philosopher, he’s not a poet, or teacher. He happens to be a world champion surfer back in the 50’s, and he’s writing about riding a surfboard.
I’m not a surfer, I think I moved to Hawaii too late in life for that. But I’ve been here in Hawaii long enough to observe that if you want to surf, you have to get out to where the big waves are. You can’t spend your time paddling around the shore. You’ve got to get out to where the white water is. But when you do that, it can be a rough and tough experience that may hurt you, but it can also lock you into a thrilling adventure and incredible excitement.
Philip Edwards is credited with being the first to surf the Banzai pipeline in Hawaii, and creating the first signature surf board.
In this life you will face problems. The question then becomes, “What kind of problems are we going to spend our months and years upon? On what are we going to spend our lives? On what kind of issues are we going to give ourselves to? Are we going to play around on the shore, or are we going to get out where the white water is? To live life on the cutting edge you’ve got to be a little bit impulsive. If Mary had not been impulsive, she never would have broken that alabaster box and anointed the feet of Jesus; Matthew would not have gotten up from that table and left his tax ledgers behind; Luther would never have stood and said, “Here I Stand so help me God;” Damien would not have served the lepers in Hawaii until he himself became one.
The Christian Life is supposed to be a mixture of burning enthusiasm and fulfilling significance. That’s what I find in the New Testament, and that’s what is supposed to be found in us as Jesus’ followers. In those moments in my life when, because of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, I have been enabled to risk myself in something, I have found excitement and drama… that which makes life worth living. But in the moments in my life, when, because of my own cowardice, I have backed away from opportunities to take a stand or to risk myself in adventures for my Lord – I have not only felt shame but have wondered how far I might have gone if I would have not been so concerned about my own personal comfort, safety, and well being.
Don’t settle for piddling around close to shore when God would have you launch out into the deep, Dare to dream big dreams. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Stop being satisfied with the status quo. Enlarge your vision. Believe that God has more in store. Live life with expectancy. God wants to do more than you can even ask or think, but you’ve got to be willing to get out of your comfort zone. He’s not limited by what you have or don’t have, so don’t settle for less than God’s best.