Exploration: Adventure to the Glory of God
“I’m getting tired of our routine, you know? If we put some trips on the calendar this summer, I think it’ll give us something to look forward to.”
I wait for a response, thinking my proposal is totally rational.
After what felt like too long, my husband sighed and said, “I’m okay with adding a few things to our schedule, but I don’t want to strain our finances or deplete our family time by traveling too much.”
Though I tried to stifle them, tears graced my cheeks. I—we—love to adventure! Our family cozied up under the stars in a gargantuan ten-man tent for a total of seventeen nights last year. We built sandcastles, caught hermit crabs, sat fireside, stayed up late, and roasted s’mores. Of all people, we know that exploration and travel can help us see afresh the story that God is telling through creation.
God’s Great Adventure
That story began with God, who created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them.[1] He made it all to glorify himself, including humanity, instructing them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.[2] Talk about adventure! As Adam and Eve went about this God-given task, they had one limitation: not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.[3] Though everything was perfect, our first parents rebelled and took the fruit, reaching for what was beyond their grasp, ushering sin and brokenness into the world.
But even then, God did not leave them grasping for hope. He promised One who would make a way for God’s people to experience an even grander adventure—redemption.[4] As we chart the course through Scripture, we see that all of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Christ.[5] God sent him into our broken world to make a way for sinners like us to have eternal life.[6] If we are in Christ, we can explore and play like we worship the God who is sovereignly working out his perfect plan for his people!
Following in His Footsteps
At their best, our family adventures are an expression of the exciting hope we receive in the gospel. When we try new things, we’re reminded that our regular routines cannot save us—only the finished work of Christ brings us to God.[7] We are now free to play and discover and explore like recipients of his glorious grace! When we do, we tap into the heart of our matchless Creator, who made us to enjoy the creation that points back to him.
But how do we enjoy these gifts in a way that doesn’t take the place of the Giver? Too often, we pursue exploration and play to escape from our present reality. We might be tempted to place our hope in the experience, instead of resting as an expression of what God has done in our heart through Christ. We might idolize or worry about elaborate travel details or experience frustration when we’re called to still serve the family on “our vacation.” If we find ourselves in any of these places, we can remember that the life of a Christian is one of self-sacrifice, which rings true even when we’re traveling. We are called to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom. 12:10), whether we’re lounging beside the pool or trekking an unfamiliar trail.
If your family is like ours, you might not have the ability to invest in an Instagram-worthy vacation or the margin to add much to your summer calendar. But take heart, fellow adventurers! We can explore right where God has us for his glory and our good. Think about local parks, museums, or restaurants that you’ve always wanted to try. Try brainstorming a simple, summer bucket list by collecting input from the whole family! As you make plans, consider how you might be able to highlight the story that God is telling through creation and communicate how your experience points back to him.
Exploration into Eternity
Remember that the purpose of exploration is to express our rest in God’s goodness and to testify to his glorious grace. In eternity, we’ll experience the greatest adventure of all—one without travel expenses, food poisoning, bad weather, or a return date. By God’s grace, we can step into that adventure today by knowing God and Jesus Christ whom he sent.[8] As we do, we look forward, then, not just to the fleeting joys of vacation and adventure, but to the day when we will fully enjoy God’s presence and restoration in the new creation—forever.
[1] Genesis 1-2
[2] Genesis 1:28
[3] Genesis 2:17
[4] Genesis 3:15
[5] 2 Corinthians 1:20
[6] John 3:16
[7] 1 Peter 3:18
[8] John 17:3
Reflection Questions
What keeps you from enjoying the gifts of travel, exploration, and play? How can you point to the Giver of the gifts as you seek to enjoy them this summer?
How might you explore and play in a way that honors your family’s budget and priorities?
What are some local ways that you can tap into the heart of your matchless Creator?
How can you develop eyes to see the story that God is weaving through his creation?
Application Ideas
Map out a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood and do a fun family activity when you find all the items listed.
See how many free events you can explore in your own community—like parades, farmers’ markets, outdoor movies, library reading programs, etc.
Pick out a new skill or hobby to research and find library books or YouTube videos that will help you learn the basics.
Sleep in a tent or fort (indoors or outdoors!) and tell stories of God’s faithfulness to you throughout your life.
Talk about different cultures and ethnicities, brainstorm foods you’d like to taste, and try them at a local restaurant! Bonus points if you look up and pray for the country represented—that Christians there will be strengthened and many others will come to know and treasure Christ as well.
Plan a road trip to see a family member or friend who has had an impact on your walk with the Lord. When you’re there, be sure to tell them how God has used them to encourage your faith!
