I just had a week of vacation. Besides great time with family and a little bit of travel, I got to do one of my favorite things – watch movies. And since Covenant Grove is in a “God at the Movies” sermon series, I thought I would take this month to talk about movies.
This week I want to talk about one of the movies I watched on vacation, called “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. Walter works at Life magazine and has a crush on his co-worker, but doesn’t have the courage to speak to her. He handles photographs for Life, and he loves the motto of the magazine – to see the world…to find each other and feel, that is the purpose of Life. He loves the motto but doesn’t live it; instead he lives in a safe, routine world and has many daydreams about being adventurous. But when a photograph goes missing and his job is threatened, Walter has to set out on adventure. He has many adventures, stops daydreaming, makes memories, finds the picture, and gets the courage to talk to the girl. In short, he lives out the motto of Life Magazine and starts to live out the purpose of life.
On vacation, I do more than just watch movies. I also take time to reflect and think about life. (Maybe I do that a little more because I am about to turn 40!) As I thought and prayed, I realized that I had been running so fast that I let my spiritual tank run a little empty. This is no one’s fault but my own. Vacation helped me reset and focus on Jesus first. I am His child, and loved more than any accomplishments. I love being with my wife and kids, and being goofy together. We made memories and had some new adventures. We will have a few more stories to share after our vacation.
What I had lost – in my running too fast – is the purpose of life. I don’t think the purpose of life is the same as Life Magazine claims, though! I think Jesus gives us the purpose of life, and shows us how to live life to the fullest. Jesus called us out of our self-made monotony into the adventure of following Him (Luke 5:10-11). Jesus wants us to know God and be known (John 17:3). Jesus came to give life overflowing (John 10:10). And with Jesus we change the world (Acts 1:8).
Following Jesus is an invitation to a full and fulfilling life – a life of light and love. But here is the thing – we have to make a choice. God will not make that choice for us; He will not force us. He is inviting us to the adventure of hope.
What is the adventure He is calling you to next?
Follow Him and live the adventure!
