Rugged Pursuit
Withdraw to the Wilderness
Endless Pursuit
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.“
Hebrews 4:12
One thing I love about the outdoors is that you can never learn all there is to know about nature. It is wild, free, untamed, and unpredictable. Every time I go into the wilderness I learn something new. The animals change their routes and routines. The weather can switch from calm to angry in the blink of an eye. The wind even changes its direction and blows wherever it pleases. No matter how much I learn about the land, the animals, and the terrain, I will never have it all figured out. I love that. I love that I am constantly learning and growing as a woodsman.
As much time as I have spent watching wildlife, I still find it extremely challenging to pattern the whitetail deer. Just when I think I know what their next move will be, they give me the slip and take the long way around my stand, just out of reach. One day you will see them on one side of the field, the next day they will be on the other. While this can be frustrating from a hunter’s viewpoint, I can still appreciate the canny abilities of these clever creatures, and it keeps me wanting to pursue them even more!
The same is true of the Bible. No matter how much I read or study, I will never know it all. The Bible tells us that the Word is alive (Hebrews 4:12). No matter how many times I’ve read a particular passage or story, I still have times where it speaks to me in a completely new way. Sometimes I am learning something for the first time. Other times I recognize something that had previously gone unnoticed. And many times, I will read a verse that applies to me differently than it did in the past, depending on my current circumstances. God’s Word is alive and active and can meet you wherever you are.
I will never know all there is to know about God. His ways are often a mystery. His actions can be unexpected. There are some things that I will just never understand, until the day comes when I can ask Him face to face, and I am okay with that. In fact, I love that! It keeps me wanting to come back for more. It makes me want to learn as much as I can about God’s will, His wisdom, and His personality. If I already knew every step of God’s plan, there would be no need for faith. Plus, if I already knew every detail, where would the adventure be? As with deer hunting, a lot of the fun is in the pursuit. And if there is no challenge, there is also less reward.
It’s amazing the way God speaks to our very souls through nature and His written Word. Ultimately, they stay the same, while our understanding or perspective may change. As we learn and grow, we become more observant and aware of the amazing ways in which God is working and moving.
If you’re looking for a double dosage of excitement, take your Bible out into the deep woods, find a good log to sit on, and listen to the choir of chickadees sing as you dive into the Word. If you’re lucky, you just might learn more about both the Creator and His creation, all in one trip!
4.6.18
Rugged Pursuit 
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