A Heavenly Quest

I've always loved stories where the characters have to set off on an epic journey to complete an important quest. Stories like Frodo and the Fellowship setting off to destroy the one ring in Lord of the Rings, Peter, Susan, and Lucy setting off to Aslan's camp to figure out how to save their brother Edmund (and ultimately Narnia) in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Luke Skywalker setting off to find Master Yoda and start Jedi training in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Harry Potter, Thorin Oakenshield, Percy Jackson....the stories go on and on. But one very important story to remember is OURS! If you're a child of God you have been given a very important quest. The day you became a Christian the quest was handed down to you by King Jesus himself.

"Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (MSG)

So we're on our quests to lead others to Christ and live for him. But here's the thing about quests.....they rarely ever go according to plan. Think about it, I have a feeling that Frodo never intended on separating from the rest of the Fellowship. In fact, I really think they all intended on going all the way to the fires of Mordor with him. However, circumstances within the fellowship changed and caused Frodo and Sam to split off from the rest of the group and continue their part of the journey on their own. But as many of us know, it was for the best because not only did it remove the temptation of the ring from the grasp of the others, it also allowed Aragorn and the rest of the fellowship to provide aid to the other parts of Middle Earth. So when the plan unexpectedly goes in a direction that you weren't expecting, AS LONG AS YOU'RE LISTENING TO GOD, don't freak out about it. Just trust that whatever direction you're going in, as long as God is the one leading, you're going to end up right where he wants you to be. 

Another thing about quests is there are usually obstacles in the path that have to be overcome. I'm by no means an avid video game player but when I get the chance sometimes I like to play Skyrim. For those who just sat back and scratched their heads, Skyrim is a game set in a Viking-like fantasy world. You play as a character known as The Dragonborn and you go on various quests all throughout the realm of Skyrim. As you journey on your quests there are times where the path is clearly marked and you face no immediate threats, you can just enjoy the scenery. But then there are times when your path isn't as clearly marked and the terrain is treacherous. A giant mountain looms on the path in front of you and you have to figure out how to either get around it or go over it (neither is easy). Dragons swoop down unexpectedly from the sky, bandits shoot arrows at you from concealed strongholds. Wolves, trolls, bears...oh my! 

In a way, this kind of reminds me of my journey through life. Sometimes, the path I've been given is smooth, everything is going pretty well, there aren't any immediate threats and I can walk easily enjoying the scenery as I go along. But there are the moments when the path becomes rocky and hard to travel. Dragons of doubt, despair and anxiety will suddenly swoop down and attack me. Bandits will shoot their arrows of discouragement, fear, anger, at me from seemingly invisible strongholds. Then there are the giant mountains that I can't possibly see a way around, through, or over. It's moments like these when we really need to exercise our faith and trust, God. Don't get me wrong we need to trust him ALL the time but ESPECIALLY when our journey is hard. 

In Skyrim, there are various weapons that you can use to protect yourself on your quest. My favorite (at the moment anyway) is a two-handed Elven Great Sword that sets stuff it strikes on fire and causes extra damage. God left us an arsenal of weapons to defend ourselves in the spiritual battles we face on our quests every day.

"Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having [a]tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 15 and having [b]strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] [c]shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

Ephesians 6:13-17 (AMP)

 "For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)

So every day before you leave your bed, make sure you put on your armor that the King has given you. Take your sword of truth with you everywhere you go by hiding God's word in your heart. With God's words, you'll be able to vanquish any foe that stands in your way. God's words are powerful and when spoken with faith, can make even the bravest demon run away scared. With God's armor as your protection, you will be able to stand up under the lies and tempations that Satan tries to and will throw your way. By trusting in God, he will make you surefooted even in the rockiest terrains.

Also, the most powerful weapon at our disposal is prayer, I've said it before, through prayer we have a direct connection to the King of the Universe. He wants to listen to us, wants us to bring our worries and desires to him. Prayer is super powerful and many things are accomplished with prayer. 

Final Thoughts: When our plans don't go AS we planned we tend to get frustrated and anxious. But my challenge to you (as well as myself) is instead of freaking out when things in our lives don't go as planned stop and ask God what he's doing in your life. It may be that he has greater things in mind for you and you have to let go of what YOU have planned in order to experience his. Another thought, your end goal, and God's end goal may be exactly the same, but the path he wants you to take to get there may be drastically different. Or, he could be trying to get your attention. Maybe you've been wandering from him and the only way to bring you back to the right path is to change stuff up. Don't be afraid when the plan changes, as long as you're trusting God to lead you'll see things that you never even imagined for yourself. And sometimes what you THOUGHT you wanted wasn't what you wanted at all. I have had many times when I pleaded with God about something I thought I really wanted, but now as I look back I'm thanking him that he didn't give me everything I've ever asked for. 

A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],

But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.

Proverbs 16:9 (AMP)

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

By your words I can see where I’m going;

    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.

I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back

    from living by your righteous order.

Psalm 119:105-106 (MSG)