Ride the River: The Candidates

 The Candidates

When you Ride the River, a relationship with God the Father, with Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit can be clearly established, maintained, and deepened. What is missing or deficient can be made up.

Lewis and Clark had no lack of candidates for the Voyage of Discovery. According to Stephen Ambrose, a sense of sheer excitement spread through the country west of the Allegheny Mountains when the news of the expedition became known: “what young frontiersman could resist such an opportunity? It was the ultimate adventure.”

Before the two captains met in the Indiana territory, each of them began to interview candidates for the expedition, subject to the approval of the other. At one point Clark wrote Lewis that several “gentlemen sons” had applied to him. He declined to accept them; they were not prepared for the discipline that the journey would require. Lewis wrote back, “I am well pleased that you have not admitted or encouraged the young gentleman you mentioned. We must set our faces against all such applications.” This was no expedition for dabblers thinking to add a touch of adventure to their lives.

The men chosen for the Voyage of Discovery came with a variety of talents and skills, but they had one thing in common: they were ready to follow Lewis and Clark into an unexplored wilderness.

The call to become a Christian has never changed, it is the same today as it was when Jesus walked the roads of Galilee. To any who would become his disciples, he says “Follow me.”

 

Luke 9:23-27 FNV

“If you want to walk the road with me, each day you must also be ready to give up your own life and carry your own crossbeam with me to the place of ultimate sacrifice. The ones who hold on to their lives will lose them, but the ones who are willing to lay down their lives for me and my message will live. How will it help you to get everything you want but lose what it means to be who Creator made you to be? Is there anything in this world worth trading for that?

If anyone is ashamed of me and of my teaching, then the True Human Being will be ashamed of them when he comes in his bright-shining greatness to be honored by the Father above and all of his Holy Spirit-messengers.

I speak from my heart, there are some of you standing here with me today who, before you cross over to death, will see Creator’s could road.”