The Lord, when He commissioned Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land, told him, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given you, as I said unto Moses” (Joshua 1:3). The Lord was saying to Joshua, Moses may be dead, but I am not! This is your time and I am your God, and I promise you if you step out in faith, I will give you the most exciting enjoyable, and exhilarating adventure ever.
With inability, inadequacy, and insufficiency, Joshua stepped out and relied on God’s provision, protection, and His promises. He began an adventure of victory for the cause of Christ. The obstacles of a flooded Jordan, walls of Jericho, seven entrenched enemies, and two million complaining Jews lay before Joshua, but he had waited forty years to conquer what the Lord had promised.
With every victory, his commitment to his God strengthened his faith. With every promise claimed, his confidence in God grew. The adventure promised then became a reality. So now the God of Moses, Joshua, your parents, and pastor is calling you! Young person, stop looking at why you can’t serve the Lord and start focusing on the One who has called you—and He has called you! He has called you to conform to His image, called you to conquer your sins, and called you to change the world. You may ask, “How? Why me? Where do I go? When do I start?” Later in Joshua 1, He answers all the questions with a strategy. Be strong and courageous. Stand and go. Obey what you know to do from the Word. Stay determined, don’t quit. Meditate on the Scriptures daily by understanding and getting a takeaway every day. Guard and live by His promises. Believe them, claim them, and go act on them. That formula will provide the greatest adventure any life could ever experience.
Never has there been a greater opportunity for youth to impact their culture and change the world than now. We are looking to young people as our hope for our future. Don’t let us down, don’t be ashamed of your risen Lord. Decide to serve Him with all your body, soul, and spirit. Decide that what He says is what matters, what He wants for me is best, and what He can do with me is glorious. Do you desire an adventure? Then choose to “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths!” (Proverbs 3:5–6)
After forty-two years of ministry, there is but one regret in my life: that I didn’t start this adventure of living 100% for Christ earlier in my teen life. Nothing the world can offer matches serving the Creator, the King, our Abba, and our Savior— Jesus Christ. This is the higher calling adventure!
