The ad on the right appeared
in the London Times IN 1914 and read:
“Men wanted for hazardous journey.
Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger.
Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.” (signed)
Shackleton”
Can you imagine anyone answering
an advertisement like this? Well, thousands of men from all over the world did.
From among them, world famous explorer Ernest Shackleton chose 27 to sail with him to
Antarctica on a ship he named Endurance. In the nearly two years they traveled
across Antarctica, Shackleton and his men battled the elements and endured
hardships in an adventure that defies description.
Jesus calls us into THE hazardous
mission to Planet Earth. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was martyred for his faith by
Nazi Germany, wrote “When
Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” In John 6 when Jesus laid
out the cost of signing up for life’s greatest adventure with Him, most of
those who claimed to be his followers turned back. And they still do today. But
there’s that handful who stick it out and say like Peter -- Lord, you're the
only one who has anything lasting, anything that really matters. You offer life
and we want to be fully alive.
Men, it is those few who look at
the hardships, count the cost and still sign on for the expedition who like Peter
and the other disciples would change the world. Jesus calls us into his great
mission and his great adventure. Like Ernest Shackleton sending out his ad,
Jesus talks straight about the "hazards and honor" for those who will
risk it all for Him. Wherever you might be in your journey, remember - the easy
road, the popular road never leads to anything that really matters. In fact,
Jesus said it leads to destruction. So if you want to be fully alive, set sail
with the real “Master and Commander” and make a difference that counts forever.
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