Last evening I spent almost 3 hrs of my time watching the adventures of Bilbo Baggins unfold, in the new release "The Hobbit". Absolutely loved the movie, and of course, saw so many great parallels and truths we experience here in our reality. So I have decided to write a few down as I embark on my own new adventure for 2013, Blogging.
The adventure begins when a quite content and comfortable hobbit, Bilbo, is approached by a wizard to go on an adventure. The wizard, Gandalf, is looking for the last member to join in a quest. He approaches Bilbo because he sees destiny in him, that Bilbo himself does not yet see. Hmm, sounds somewhat familiar. Bilbo's immediate response is to stay as far away from "adventure" as possible. Adventure means mess, uncomfortable, and does not fit into his plan. He is most content staying in his "hole", sitting on his porch and smoking his pipe.
Without the hobbit descriptors, and references to mythical beings, this sounds like the present state of many. I myself was in this same place. The thought of stepping out of my comfort zone spiritually sounded very messy, uncomfortable, and really didn't fit into my plan of world domination. (according to the American dream). I spent majority of my life feeling that any form of disruption, or untidiness was not from God. After all..
1 Cor. 14:40 But all things should be done with regard to decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion.
So like Bilbo, I felt any shaking or discomfort was to be guarded against. To actually put myself into a position that was uncertain would mean certain peril.
So through the antics of some very unruly dwarf house guests Bilbo realizes that it's time to step out. To leave the comfortable, and seek a greater destiny. He steps out very ill equipped. One of the other members of the rabble clan referred to him as a grocer, rather than a warrior. He wasn't a battle hardened veteran, he most likely didn't have a scar. However, he had been chosen. Sometimes we look at our lack of qualification as an excuse not to venture into the unknown. We look at what we haven't accomplished as an indicator of what we are capable of. If we judge ourselves on these merits we are destined to mediocrity, and lack. We will not fulfill God's plan for us, or ever even catch a gimps of that plan. Gandalf saw the gold in Bilbo. He saw a destiny greater than Bilbo could personally see. I have been fortunate enough to have a few Gandolfs in my life. Those who see what God has destined me for. They have pushed me out of the nest as sorts and, though scary, allowed me to find my wings.
Bilbo finds that as he stretches his wings, as his experience catches up with his destined path, his qualifications become more apparent. Along the way he collects the tools, the knowledge, and the courage to become what he was born to become. Yes, he spends many fear bound moments on this road, but the further he ventures the more he becomes. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. While this sounds cliche, it's truth. Look at the band of misfits and uneducated people Jesus surrounded Himself with. He chose fisherman, tax collectors, and prostitutes to bring the truth to people much more qualified to teach, preach, and proselytize. Peter, James, and John would have been considered by most as simple. No worth on the public stage. Yet God had created them to be foundational, and in Peter's case, the Rock the church was to be built on. Had they decided to stay with their boat, and fish for a living, where would we be today?
Apathy, and comfort is running ramped in all facets of life. God has created each of us for a destiny, an adventure. He hasn't called any of us to become stagnant. We should never expect arrival. Seek to reach a summit and then sit and reap the spoils of our labor. He has an adventure for you. A journey that will bring you to the man, woman, or hobbit you were created to be. Don't be afraid to step into the uncomfortable, because you lack the tools, knowledge, or experience. In Kingdom culture those things are placed in your path as you step out in faith. Bilbo asked Gandalf if he could guarantee he would return safely form this adventure, and the answer was no. Faith is stepping out and believing that God has your back, and will give you exactly what you need when you need it. He'll supply the elven blade at the very moment you must slay your orc...
be blessed
Nevin Hershberger
No comments:
Post a Comment