“No vision is bigger or better than the good news called the gospel. It’s the fulfillment of our deepest desires . . . the answer to our hardest questions . . . the solution to our biggest problems. In my opinion — and experience — there is no greater adventure than following Jesus. You’ll go unanticipated places and do inconceivable things with unexpected people — never a dull moment.”- Mark Batterson
Then Jesus came to [the eleven disciples] and said, “All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.”- Matthew 28:18-19 (NIV)
Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 4 of Gradually Then Suddenly with his exhortation that if we’re going to be great at anything, we ought to be great at the Great Commission. Therefore, a line from the movie Up serves as a life motto for Mark: “Adventure is out there.”
However, Pastor Batterson quips, bettors on Caesar’s Sportsbook placed wagers on the Roman Empire lasting longer than the Christian faith. That the greater influence belonged to Julius Caesar, not Jesus. But, as Mark reminds us, two thousand years later Caesar is a salad. Hence, as second-century theologian Tertullian stated, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
Thus Rome, once the greatest show on earth, was just the understory. Because the gospel = the overstory. So, Mark asks, do you fixate on the news? Or focus on the good news?
In conclusion, Mark counsels:
“Beware of recency bias! It’s putting too much weight on the understories that are happening in real time. You have to stay focused on the overstory. You have to discern what’s happening when what’s happening is happening. God is always writing a bigger story! God is always writing a better story! . . .
That’s the essence of cathedral thinking — my utmost for His highest, His way — nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.”
Today’s question: Do you agree with Mark that there’s no greater adventure than following Jesus? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Small acts of obedience”