Spirit Of Discovery

People have this eternal drive to experience something new. This characteristic is exemplified in George Mallory's statement to the press when asked about his pursuit of Mt. Everest,s summit, “because it's there”, he replied. This pursuit cost him his life along with his companion Andrew Irvine. This same spirit launched Queen Isabella's quest for the New World, as she funded Christopher Columbus and his small armada in 1492. Today, the United States, China, India and Japan are all planning to land astronauts on the Moon by 2020, some 50 years after it was accomplished on July 20, 1969 (Forbes.com Michio Kaku – The Cost Of Space Exploration).

This quest for the unknown is responsible for new discoveries in the fields of medicine and science and is the catalyst for financial investments. Our Creator is so in tune with this characteristic of mankind that he appealed to Abraham long ago by saying, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). The trust that Abraham exemplified through leaving home and obeying God eventually led to great blessings for all people and his family's journey to the Promised Land.

Jesus appealed to ordinary men as he began his earthly ministry by saying, “follow me” (Matthew 4:19). Amazingly, they immediately left their occupation and followed him (Matthew 4:22). Peter acknowledged the fact they had forsaken all to follow Jesus, but what was the reward or expectation for such behavior? Jesus replied, “And every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19:27-29).

Today, it is with this same spirit of discovery that people are drawn to Jesus Christ. Those who seek a better life, a meaningful purpose, a higher calling and a brighter hope, are choosing to follow Jesus. The apostle Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17).