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What motivates you? Does the opportunity for adventure excite you? If so, coming soon is an adventure you won't want to miss. It will pale into insignificance every past exploit or achievement and will completely surpass anything you have ever imagined!
In my youth I was fascinated by inventors and adventurers. I often read books from the public library about the accomplishments of such notable figures as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Edmund Hillary and the Wright Brothers.
Available at that time was the We Were There series, consisting of 36 historical novels for young people written between 1955 and 1963. These books told inspiring, entertaining stories based on true historic events. Titles included We Were There With Lewis and Clark, We Were There at the First Airplane Flight and We Were There With Byrd at the South Pole.
While reading this series of books and others, I keenly desired to set off on an exciting adventure. Nevertheless as a boy, my escapades went no farther than my own neighborhood! As I entered my 20s, however, something extraordinary happened. I was introduced to what will be the greatest adventure of all time! I'd like to tell you about it because you can participate.
In fact, all people, young and old, rich and poor, from every culture and land can eventually join in. Contemplating this adventure can energize one's mind and heart. It promises infinite potential beyond the bounds of human imagination. This adventure, brought to us from the very Creator of the universe, will pale into insignificance every past human exploit or achievement!
Remarkably, human beings, even with their marvelous intelligence and creative ability, cannot begin to imagine what God is preparing for them. The apostle Paul wrote: "What God has planned is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds" (1 Corinthians 2:9, Contemporary English Version).
Indeed, what God intends seems utterly preposterous to those who have not yet had their minds opened to understand it! "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
To be sure, spiritual insight from God is the critical element in comprehending this coming extraordinary adventure. While human beings concentrate most of their thoughts on temporary, physical concerns and interests, God's thinking revolves around what is spiritual and eternal: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).
Most people have no clue as to their incredible potential. They are completely unaware of the "unseen" (2 Corinthians 4:18 (English Standard Version). However, our Creator has for now called a small number of people to grasp His spiritual knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10). Even though He has not revealed every detail to them, they are offered an exhilarating glimpse of a thrilling and supremely productive future (1 Corinthians 13:12). "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Revelation 21:7, emphasis added throughout).
What did He mean? Will a person literally inherit the billions upon billions of stars? Does "all things" include everything seen and unseen? Absolutely! In the original Greek language the term "all things" is derived from the word panta, meaning the totality of the creation (John 1:3). While human beings presently have dominion over the earth, it is just a tiny precursor to the astounding adventure yet to come (Genesis 1:28; Hebrews 2:6-8).
To all those who love and obey Him, our eternal Father offers the marvelous opportunity to live, create and flourish with Him in His divine family for all eternity (1 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23). But to experience that future, each person must undergo a dramatic change from mortal life to immortality at the time of the resurrection of the dead (John 10:28; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52). At that very moment those who are God's children will be completely transformed to be like Him (1 John 3:2).
What is the Eternal God like? The patriarch Moses wanted to know and said to Him, "Please, show me Your glory" (Exodus 33:18). Because God's appearance is so amazingly radiant He told Moses, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live" (Exodus 33:20). Nevertheless God allowed Moses to see His back, after which Moses' own face glowed so luminously that he had to keep it covered so as not to startle the Israelites (Exodus 33:23; Exodus 34:29-35).
In the first chapter of the book of Revelation, the glorified, resurrected Jesus Christ gave the apostle John a look at His form through a vision: "His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves . . . and his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance" (Revelation 1:14-16, New International Version).
God's faithful saints will take on His appearance when they are granted everlasting life at the resurrection of the dead (Colossians 1:12; Daniel 12:2). Jesus Christ "will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" (Philippians 3:21). For those given this fabulous, new spiritual existence, death, sorrow, crying and pain will forever be a thing of the past (Revelation 21:4). Just how wonderful and gratifying will this eternal spiritual life be? King David described it as enjoying "pleasures forevermore" (Psalms 16:11).
Each new spirit being will be given awesome capabilities. Imagine, for example, having the ability to walk through solid objects or materialize out of nowhere as Christ did when He appeared to His disciples after His resurrection (Matthew 24:13-43). Envision being able to travel swiftly throughout the universe at what could be called the speed of thought (John 20:11-19). Imagine having the capacity to know and recite the names of each of the billions of stars in the universe (Psalm 147:4-5).
Besides having these aptitudes, the new immortal beings will be accomplishing wonderful, creative work and service just as God does. Jesus said, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working" (John 5:17). Upon being changed into glorious beings, God's children will not then go away to live in heaven in a passive, uneventful future. Rather, they will be actively leading and aiding human beings here on the earth. As angels proclaim to God about those who are saved, "You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule on earth " (Revelation 5:10, Today's English Version).
Priests are leaders and teachers. Along with Christ they will wisely instruct people in God's way of life and administer His laws for 1,000 years (Isaiah 30:20-21; Revelation 20:6). They will work to establish and preserve righteousness, peace and prosperity throughout the world (Romans 8:21). Even then, the adventure is just beginning, as we inherit the entire universe.
So, the greatest adventure of all time awaits all those who deeply love, honor and obey God.
This brings us to some crucial questions.
How can you participate in what God is planning?
What can you do to share in His unparalleled opportunities to serve, grow and create?
Actually, preparing for this coming great adventure is an adventure in itself. Any meaningful human endeavor requires good planning and vigorous effort. And the same goes for readying yourself to serve with Christ in His coming government.
It all begins with God's calling, which only the Father can initiate (John 6:44). On His invitation, He begins lifting the veil of deception that has formerly prevented you from grasping His true spiritual knowledge (Ephesians 1:18). After God opens your mind to comprehend His truth, you are faced with a choice. Either you can continue pursuing your old, sinful ways, or you can respond to Him through repentance of your sins and obedience to His commandments (1 Peter 1:22; Psalm 119:172).
After repentance-turning your life around to seek God above all else-you are then baptized. In doing so you fully accept Jesus Christ as your Savior while recognizing that it is only through His life, death and resurrection that you have spiritual deliverance (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11).
After baptism you immediately receive God's remarkable gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by His ministry (1 Timothy 4:4). Then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you strive to "live by every word of God" and stay close to your Sustainer through diligent prayer (Luke 4:4; Philippians 4:6). Your aim is to completely follow Jesus' example of love toward God and others (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:5).
This process of spiritual transformation begins preparing you for the coming supreme adventure of everlasting life and service in the Kingdom of God. This goal should motivate you far beyond any endeavor you might find exciting or attractive in this physical life!
Of course, before embarking on this new spiritual journey you will need to carefully "count the cost" since there will be difficulties and challenges ahead (Luke 14:28-33; Ephesians 6:12).
You must never forget that, at least for the time being, the entire world is trapped in a colossal, satanic deception from which you have been freed through God's grace (1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9; Ephesians 2:1-10). Each day you will need to "put on the whole armor of God" and live by faith in order "to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:16).
Through God's powerful help you will need to focus your mind and heart significantly more on His interests and much less on your own (Psalm 121:1-2; Matthew 6:25; Matthew 16:23). Although you currently have important physical responsibilities, including family, school or work, these must never supersede your immensely greater mission to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).
The goal of participating in the coming great adventure in God's Kingdom, with its splendid rewards and opportunities, must fill you completely (2 Timothy 4:17). This will help us to endure. "Since we are [God's] children, we will share his treasures- for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later" (Romans 8:17-18, New Living Translation, 1996).
So the greatest adventure of all time is coming! I'm preparing to participate. Will you join me?
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