The Path to God's Adventure
Many people have never experienced God. Even many Christians live lives in which God is not visible. Others, on the other hand, have had wonderful experiences with God, but those experiences took place many years ago.
But what do the people who experience God daily do differently? Why is there no visible difference in the lives of some monks, priests, and pastors - who seemingly devote their lives to their faith - while ordinary people constantly experience Jesus in their daily lives and are transformed from glory to glory? Why do some people experience God’s presence daily, with signs and wonders following them, while others haven’t even heard that God is still at work today?
To answer this question, I’ve studied the Word of God and observed both others and my own life, and I’ve come to the conclusion that, in reality, it isn’t difficult to experience God. In fact, it’s so simple that, in principle, we all already know how. But because we’re so strongly influenced by human traditions and dead religiosity, we find it hard to recognize and accept God’s simple message. In this article and a few that follow, I’d like to explain to you clearly and simply what has radically changed my life. I hope this will be of service to you.
God’s Story for You
Everyone intuitively knows which stories are worth telling. No one would be interested in a story where the main character leads an ordinary life, where everything revolves around himself. The interesting stories are about people who were willing to sacrifice themselves for others and who, despite the circumstances, never gave up their faith in a happy ending. It doesn’t matter whether the story is about a superhero or a housewife, a retiree or a schoolchild, a rich or a homeless person. The crucial question isn’t who is part of the story or what the circumstances are, but how the characters live their lives.
When it comes to our own lives, however, things often look different. Hardly anyone is truly interested in living a life worth telling. We read with excitement as the main character in a book overcomes difficult situations and grows as a person, but many don’t want to experience these things themselves because they seem too risky or they don’t see any personal benefit in them. Or they’re so overwhelmed by their circumstances that they’ve already given up hope and just want to get through life somehow. That’s incredibly sad, because as a result, they’re missing out on God’s wonderful plan for their lives.
But if there is a God who loves people and has created each and every one of us in a wonderful and creative way, then it’s clear that He also has a wonderful, story-worthy journey for each and every one of us. If God created the earth for us so rich in detail, with millions of special places we can travel to, then it stands to reason that God has a special journey for every single life.
Are you already living a life whose story is worth telling? A life that inspires and changes (or has changed) other people? If not, then I have good news for you!
The Glorious Path
Many people have been deeply hurt by religious traditions and now believe that the path with God is incredibly difficult, narrow, and full of hardship. There is some truth to that, but the reality is actually the opposite. In truth, it is a wonderful adventure.
What we leave behind when we set out on the path with God are our burdens, worries, fears, traumas, and our ego. What we receive in return is peace, life, and joy. The essence of the Christian life is to be reconciled with God and simply to walk in the works that Jesus has already prepared. In other words: to be loved, to receive everything from God, and then to love and serve others. It feels as though you are living out your true calling; as though you are the main character in your own story, the one God has prepared.
Now, some might say that this sounds too good to be true, and even Jesus spoke of a narrow path:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
~ Matthew 7:13–14
This passage is usually interpreted to mean that the broad path is the pleasant, easy path, and the narrow path is the difficult and arduous path that ultimately leads to eternal life. There is some truth to this, but it is interesting that Jesus never said that the narrow path is difficult and arduous, nor that we must wait until we reach heaven to see God’s glory. In fact, the Bible says the following about the path with God:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
~ Proverbs 3:5–6
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
~ Proverbs 4:18–19
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
~ Psalm 23:1–4
Even Jesus, who should be our example in everything, had a glorious life. Of course, his circumstances were often difficult and marked by persecution and rejection, but the life he lived had more meaning and beautiful moments than perhaps any other life in this world. Now that we, too, have become sons and daughters of God, God wants the same for our lives. The only thing we have to give up for this is our old, corrupt, and self-centered life.
Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?‘
~ Luke 9:23–25
The Door Is Open
I know this article is short and only touches on many topics very briefly. But I hope you’ve been able to gain a better sense of how God intended your life to be.
I know that in reality, things are often not as simple as I’ve described. I myself struggled with doubt for many years, led a tedious, religious life, and had no real relationship with my creator. I wondered why God seemed to have a good relationship with some people - allowing them to experience so much with Him - and why I saw none of that in my own life. For a long time, I was secretly frustrated by this, but over time I realized that God wasn’t the problem - I was the one standing in my own way. Today I can say without a doubt that life as a born-again Christian is wonderful and incredibly simple - as long as you don’t complicate it for yourself.
So do yourself a favor: don’t complicate life, and simply live out your relationship with Jesus: If we are not loved by Him, we cannot love. If we do not let Him work through us, we will not bear fruit. And believe me, God’s plan for you is greater and better than you can imagine!