You Can't Just Sit There: The Christian Life Is Meant to Be an Adventure

Faith was never meant to be passive. The Christian life is not a spectator sport, and following Jesus has always required more than showing up and checking out. If your faith feels more like a merry-go-round than a mountain climb, this is for you.

What Did Jesus Actually Call Us To Do?

Jesus did not say, "Come and sit and listen about Me." He said two words: "Follow Me." That is an active, ongoing, daily call to movement and discipleship.

When the original apostles heard those words, they left their nets immediately and went. No hesitation. No committee meeting. That kind of response reflects what genuine faith looks like in action.

There was an expression in Jesus' time that captures this beautifully: "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." The idea is that you are following so closely behind your teacher that the dust from his feet rises up and covers you. That is the kind of proximity and pursuit we are called to.

Why Do So Many Christians Seem Bored with Their Faith?

Look around on a Sunday morning in many churches across the country. Are people excited to be there? Do they look like they have good news to share? Not always.

The problem is not Christianity itself. The problem is complacency. Many believers have settled into a routine that looks religious on the outside but has stopped growing on the inside. They are not on a pilgrimage. They are on a merry-go-round, repeating the same year over and over again.

There is a world of difference between 50 years of growing as a Christian and having the same year 50 years in a row.

What Does a Growing Faith Actually Look Like?

Paul describes it clearly in Philippians 3:12-14:

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

Paul uses the phrase "press on" twice. He is not coasting. He is pursuing. He is straining forward. That is the posture of a growing disciple.

Is There Risk Involved in Following Jesus?

Yes, and that is actually the point.

Think about a trapeze artist. The flyer has to let go, fly through the air, and trust that the catcher will be there. The catcher is the most important person in the act. If the catcher's hands are loose, the flyer falls.

Jesus is our catcher. We are always flying toward Him, always reaching, always trusting that He will catch us. If you never feel like you might fall, you are probably not taking enough risk in your faith.

As Martin Luther said, "I don't know the way, but I do know my guide."

Walking by faith means forfeiting the safe comfort zone and trusting that God will help you live the new life He is calling you to.

What Are the Three Elements of a Faith Adventure?

Every real adventure involves three things, and the Christian life is no different:

• Risk: We walk by faith, not by sight. We have to let go of what holds us back and trust that God will catch us.
• Purpose: We are on a journey toward knowing God more deeply, understanding how loved we are, and learning to love others more generously.
• Companionship: We have the gift of the church, the gift of the Holy Spirit, mutual encouragement, and a common bond in Christ.

You are not just someone who goes to church. You are part of the church. Every believer is part of the body of Christ, and every believer is called to this adventure.

What Happens When We Actually Invest in Our Faith?

There is a direct correlation between the effort we put into knowing Jesus and the results we receive. A meager effort produces a meager reward. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:58:

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58 English Standard Version (ESV)

And Psalm 37:4 promises:

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

When Jesus is the desire of your heart, He gives you more of Himself. More love, more joy, more peace. These are not distant rewards. They are available to anyone who actively follows Christ and lives their faith in the Spirit.

Are You Holding On or Reaching Forward?

Think about a child on a jungle gym. Some kids grip the first bar and refuse to let go. Others reach out for the next one, even if it feels uncertain. Which one describes your faith right now?

We are all in a liminal space, a transition. We are moving from who we were to who God is making us to be, and eventually to the new life we will have in glory. This world is a transition stage. The danger is stopping in the middle and never pressing through.

A dynamic, growing faith involves greater knowledge and understanding of Scripture, discovering and using the gifts God has given you, serving others, enjoying meaningful fellowship and worship, and much more. Adventure, by definition, is never boring. It is invigorating. Your faith should be the same.

Have You Thanked God for Getting You Through?

Most of us, if we are honest, can look back at seasons of our lives and say, "I am so glad I made it through that." God carried us through things we did not even fully recognize at the time.

When is the last time you stopped and thanked Him for that? The same God who carried you through the hard years is the same God who is walking with you today and will carry you through whatever comes next. At the end of it all is victory.

Life Application

This week, identify one specific area of your faith where you have been holding on to the first bar instead of reaching for the next one. It might be a conversation you have been avoiding, a spiritual discipline you have been neglecting, a gift you have not been using, or a step of obedience you have been putting off.

Take that one step. Let go of the bar. Trust the catcher.

Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:

• If I am honest, am I growing in my faith right now, or am I repeating the same year over and over?
• What is one risk I have been unwilling to take in following Jesus, and what is holding me back?
• When did I last thank God specifically for carrying me through a hard season, and have I let that gratitude fuel my trust in Him today?
• What would it look like for my faith to feel like an adventure this week rather than a routine?

The Christian life is as good as it gets. Press on.