We thrive on taking risks and to a certain extent experiencing danger.

 

People enjoy mountain-climbing, skiing, parachute-jumping, running with the bulls and bungee-jumping because there is a certain amount of danger in them. It is not that these people wish to die; it is just that they receive an exhilarating feeling of facing danger and surviving. To a much lower extent we seek this sense of danger when we go on a roller coaster. People enjoy gambling because of an element of risk.

 

We enjoy novels and movies where we can vicariously experience the dangers of the characters. This is why we love stories about horror and action. Imagine how boring it would be if all our books and movies involved no risk or danger to the characters! Imagine how it would be if every book had a happy ending!

 

Imagine how boring life would be without any risks! This is why a person who starts his own business enjoys going to work every morning more than the one who is stuck in a 9-to-5 job. The business could fail; there is a danger that the person may lose his business. But that is the adrenaline rush! It COULD fail, but that just makes it all the sweeter when it does not.

 

That is why communism failed. It offered its people total security. There was not the risk of losing their jobs or receiving less pay. There was no risk of failing and no reward in succeeding. But the lack of risk takes away our edge. We become complacent and bored.

 

This is another reason I appreciate my Catholic faith. The Catholic Church teaches that no one can be absolutely sure of their salvation. For many Protestants, they see this as a really depressing idea. But I see that as exciting!

 

Every day I face dangers far more than James Bond ever experienced fighting the bad guys. My life makes James Bond’s life look boring in comparison! Where James Bonds risks his life fighting international spies, I risk my very soul in fighting Satan and his demons. True, evangelical Protestants also see this life as a spiritual battle against the devil, but this is more like neighborhood kids playing war then an actual war. In an actual war, you could die. I view my spiritual war with the Devil where it is possible that I could lose my soul. Please do not misunderstand me. The fight we are fighting is a good fight. Through Christ we are more than conquerors! Greater is He who in us than he who is in the world. But still, there are casualties.  There are individuals who have lost the faith and lost their souls, which is why we must be on guard and put on the whole armor of God.

 

Ever since I realized how I could possibly lose my soul to the devil, I see my life as a thrilling battle. Complacency breads boredom and mediocrity. If you are bored at church, ask yourself this thing. Do you see these spiritual dangers around you every day? If you are bored at work or at home, do you see that the devil is prowling around you seeking an opportunity to devour you? If you understand this, you will see life is filled with danger and intrigue. It is more than a matter of life and death. It is a matter of your every soul.

 

All this attraction we have with danger is because God has planted this within us.  We have an innate desire that Frodo in The Lord of the Rings had when he left that village of complacency and security to fight enemies, realizing that danger is ever near him.  We are all called to be Crusaders for the Kingdom of God. What is at stake is more than any danger we can experience in any other battle. What is at stake is the loss of our very souls. When we keep this in mind, our Christian lives can never be complacent and dull. The Christian life is a great adventure. But any adventure implies a certain amount of danger.