The Quest

Spring has sprung! Or has it? Here in Alabama the first few weeks are always a toss-up and this morning brought on the cold, literally. Two days ago required a T-shirt and sunscreen, yesterday I could feel a change in the air and by last night I was reaching for my worn and trusty hoodie. Sitting on the patio in the brisk wind makes me appreciate the warmth that the sun brings.

Just as today has brought on the literal cold it seems to have brought a figurative cold with it as well. Over the course of the last few weeks I have seen so many of my friends and family suffer loss. I see broken hearts, hear of disappointing diagnoses and feel the fear the doctors dredge up with suggested treatments and outcomes. Yes, I must say, the winds of today have blown the cold our way and that's a fact. I am so glad my reality reaches beyond the facts. My reality and those facts are encompassed by the Living Truth.

You see, as a follower of Christ, I know life happens to all of us but I believe I'm just passing through to my perfect, permanent promise. The one who penned Psalm 84:5-7 believed that as well. He describes the man who is blessed. This man's heart is "set on pilgrimage". This man's heart is set on the quest and realizes his time on earth is just that, the quest to inherit the Kingdom. The Psalmist goes on to say "as they pass through the valley of weeping they make it a spring" and "the rain covers it with pools" of blessing. "They go from strength to strength" and the God of God's will be seen by them as each one appears before Him in Zion. Life happens. We're just passing through. Our hearts truly should be set on the quest.

As I think on the word quest I immediately see a warrior (a knight if you will) in armor,

gallantly riding his trusty steed into the distance. His quest will, indeed, include valleys of weeping and heavy rains that pool on the ground of his victories. He will have to choose to ride through the tears and torrents in order to make it to the end of his quest. He must remember the victory is not in the quest, even though he experiences victories there, the victory is the end of the quest. I really began dissecting this picture and looked up the definition of knight. What I found was most interesting: "Knight - the holder of a non-hereditary dignity given to them by a sovereign." Suddenly a knight and his quest sounds much like what Paul was speaking of when he penned in Romans chapter 8 "but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out Abba Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Yes...I see a warrior in a sanctuary. He is dusty and tired. He has fought well but knows there are many more battles to face; however, for this moment there is rest. He removes his bow and drops his quiver. His shield is ready at hand but he knows in this place it is not needed. He leans over and drinks in the cool clean water as it rustles over the rocks then he sits back and listens as his Master speaks words of hope, comfort and rest. He has other mountains to climb and battles to fight. He hears the war in the distance but for now he takes strength in knowing that the Master who provided this sanctuary before he arrived is already on the battlefield making provision for the victory. Yes - the warrior can rest for he knows who holds his outcome. The battles he has fought were hard but the victory he is going to obtain will be sweet.

Holding that picture in mind I encourage you to continue on in the quest. The north winds may feel cold now and the ground may still be wet beneath your feet but ride through until you face His Glory. The glory that will warm us up and let us know the quest has ended with every treasure, every promise being firmly held within our grip victoriously holding them up in presentation to The Sovereign who knighted us in the first place. Rest in our Master's presence today my friend and receive all that you need from Him to carry on. The battles continue but our victory is secure!

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