Introduction
I’m bored. There—I said it. I need an adventure.
That may sound strange coming from someone who has already experienced a lifetime of adventure. My wife and I have never been strangers to adventure. Our life together has been filled with movement, ministry, family, and experiences we could never have planned for ourselves. We have traveled through most of the fifty states. Restless by nature, we moved more than thirty-five times—East to West and North to South.
We raised three children, adopted three more, and opened our home to more than twenty-four foster children. And it wasn’t only children. Adults, too, sometimes found their way into our home—people we encountered at church, in a park, or simply along the journey of life. We have served the Lord as licensed and ordained ministers. We have married people, buried people, served as lead counselors, and pastored cell groups and home groups. So now I find myself asking: What do we do now? What adventure is left? What should I seek? The obvious answer seems to be found in the words of Jesus:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 ESV
Of course. Seek first the kingdom of God. It sounds simple. It is biblical. But then I had to ask myself a harder question: What does that really mean for us now? We have spent much of our lives serving, praying, studying, ministering, raising children, caring for others, and endeavoring to follow Christ. So what is left, Lord? Should we read more? Pray more? Serve more? Those are good things—and I am already trying to do them. But perhaps I was asking the wrong question. Perhaps the question is not: “What should I do next?” Perhaps the question is: “What should I seek?”
The Riddle
So I came before my Lord with what I can only describe as a riddle: “What’s next? What should I seek?” The answer began to unfold through the opening words of Proverbs, where the pursuit of wisdom is connected with knowledge, instruction, discernment, and understanding (Proverbs 1:2–7). I must pursue: Wisdom. Knowledge. Discretion. Understanding. Discretion and understanding become a proper application of wisdom learned.
Then I asked another question: “Where do I find them?” And then came words that have become deeply precious to me:
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
And there it was. My favorite verse in Scripture. I end every letter with it. Suddenly, the answer became much clearer. Our answer was not merely something to seek. Our answer was Someone to know.
God’s Word was not meant merely to be read, studied, or quoted. Jeremiah describes something much more intimate. He ate the words of God, and those words became the joy and delight of his heart. That changes everything. The adventure that remains before us is not necessarily another journey across the country, another ministry assignment, another accomplishment, or another thing to add to our lives. It is the adventure of knowing God more deeply.
His Word must become more than information stored in our minds. It must become nourishment for our souls. It must take root in our hearts until it begins to shape what we love, what we desire, what we say, what we do, and ultimately who we are. And as His Word takes root within us, something deeper begins to happen. The fear of the Lord becomes more than something we believe. It becomes more than a doctrine we understand. It becomes more than a practice we attempt to maintain. The fear of the Lord—the reverent awe, love, trust, and holy regard that recognizes who God is—begins to penetrate the very core of our being.
Scripture tells us:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 ESV
And again:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10 ESV
Perhaps this is the adventure we have been looking for all along. Not an adventure away from God, but an adventure deeper into Him. Not simply doing something new for God, but allowing God to do something new in us. And so, with whatever time remains to us on this earth, this is the course we intend to pursue. We want to seek wisdom. We want to pursue knowledge, discretion, and understanding. We want to find His Word, receive it, and consume it until it becomes the joy and delight of our hearts. We want to know Him—not merely know about Him. And perhaps, as we continue down this path, the riddle will unfold a little more.
What Is Next?
What is next? I believe we are beginning to discover the answer. There is no rigid order, and there is no elaborate plan beyond what the Lord puts before us. But let me share where we are so far. Wisdom and knowledge are now my objectives.
Wisdom
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; James 1:5-7 ESV
This sounds easy enough; however, I have found that wise words must be used by wise people in order to produce wisdom. Asking “in faith” with “no doubting” can be stumbling blocks. We cannot simply collect biblical statements as though we were collecting facts in a database. We must learn to understand them, discern their context, and live them faithfully. The Word of God is true. But applying truth requires wisdom. And wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.“ Proverbs 9:10 ESV
Worldly Knowledge
Here again, I have been blessed. I never set out to pursue knowledge as an objective in itself. Yet, looking back over my life, I believe I was Spirit-led into a classical education far beyond what my own abilities would have produced. Whatever success I have experienced in life can best be described as God-led rather than self-made.
I was raised in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of New York State. As a child, I explored one of America’s most magnificent wilderness regions. I climbed rugged peaks, hiked forest trails, waded through mountain streams, and photographed landscapes that remain vivid in my memory. Those experiences instilled in me a lifelong appreciation for the beauty of creation—and, increasingly, for the majesty of its Creator. Before graduating from high school, I had already developed a passion for amateur photography and the outdoors. I did not realize it at the time, but perhaps God was already teaching me to: look, observe, wonder, and seek.
During the early years of my academic life, while I was still a student, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel. With friends, I traveled throughout Europe and the United Kingdom by bicycle and rail. Looking back, I believe this was one of the most intense and formative educational experiences of my life. It taught me things no classroom or university could have taught me. I encountered different cultures, languages, histories, landscapes, customs, and ways of thinking. I learned that knowledge is not merely information stored in the mind. Knowledge also involves the ability to observe, experience, question, understand, and discern.
When I returned to the United States months later, I continued my formal studies in Sociology, Psychology, Microbiology, and Medical Microbiology. From there, my path led into industry, where I served in a variety of leadership and technical positions, including Supervisor, Manager, Manufacturing Pharmacist, Director, and Technical Director. Eventually, I founded my own consulting company, working as a Validation Engineer and Technical Writer within the highly regulated worlds of Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and Biotechnology.
That was my classical education. That was my professional career. But it was not the end of my education. In fact, I have come to understand that it was preparation for something far greater. While my professional career was challenging, it was not always fulfilling. In the middle of this career, my wife and I were born again through praying neighbors. After this experience, which is a story by itself, my career became increasingly rewarding, and our hearts were dramatically drawn toward the things of God. My wife and I eventually answered that calling by becoming licensed and ordained ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, my greatest passion is no longer found in science, industry, or professional accomplishment. It is found in knowing God, understanding His Word, and sharing the eternal truths He has revealed through Scripture. The difference is profound.
The knowledge of this world can teach us how things work. It can explain the physical world, describe human behavior, develop medicines, establish manufacturing processes, and expand our understanding of creation. Those things have value. But biblical knowledge leads us beyond the creation to the Creator. I repeat the Scripture mentioned above, which says:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7 ESV
And Proverbs goes further:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10 ESV
Spiritual Knowledge
This is the knowledge I now seek. Not worldly knowledge as above but Spiritual knowledge. I have spent much of my life learning about the world God made. Now, more than anything, I desire to know the God who made it. That pursuit has brought me to these writings. Through prayer, study, meditation, and seeking the Lord, I believe I am continuing to grow in knowledge through the Holy Spirit. I do not claim to have arrived. I am still learning. I am still being corrected. I am still being transformed. And that distinction is critical. Paul warns us:
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” 1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV
That is an important warning for anyone who pursues knowledge—including me. Knowledge without humility can become another form of pride. The purpose of learning God’s truth is not to make us impressive. It is to make us obedient. The goal is not simply to know more. The goal is to know Him more deeply. My eyes are set. My heart is being established. My understanding is being renewed. And my actions must follow.
Because knowledge that never reaches the heart remains information. Knowledge that reaches the heart begins to produce understanding. And knowledge, understanding, and wisdom surrendered to God become a way of life. Jesus said:
“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:17 ESV
So I continue to seek. I continue to study. I continue to pray. I continue to learn. And above all, I continue to seek the One who is the source of all true knowledge.
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36 ESV
Conclusion
I’m an octogenarian of 84 years at the time of this writing. I’ve done much in my lifetime. At the end of my years, with less to do, I seek ways to occupy my time in an exciting pursuit. I haven’t found a way yet. I’m still bored. There—I said it again. But perhaps I finally understand why. I have pursued worldly knowledge, and I am grateful for what it has given me. My classical studies in history, literature, science, social studies, and culture have served me well throughout my lifetime. I would encourage others to pursue such knowledge. We are called to live wisely in the world God has placed us in, and understanding the world around us can help us do that. But worldly knowledge has a limitation. It can inform the mind without satisfying the soul. It can explain how things work, but it cannot, by itself, answer the deepest questions of why we are here. It can fill our minds with information, but it cannot fill the deepest places of our hearts. It can occupy our time, but it cannot give us the eternal purpose for which we were created. Even after a lifetime of learning, a person can still find himself asking: “Is this all there is?” I have discovered that worldly knowledge cannot ultimately cure the boredom within me. Something deeper is required. Spiritual understanding—wisdom and knowledge received through the Word of God and lived out through the work of the Holy Spirit—is what reaches the inward places of the soul. The answer, I believe, is not to stop learning. It is to change what I am seeking. There is knowledge the world can provide. And there is knowledge that comes through knowing God. The difference is enormous. As I approach the end of my time here on earth, I still need an adventure capable of overcoming my boredom. And now I believe I know where that adventure lies.
The riddle began with a question: “What should I seek?” The answer came from Proverbs: Wisdom. Knowledge. Discretion. Understanding. But then another question followed: “Where do I find them?”
I sought wisdom and knowledge in the world, and I am grateful for what I discovered there. But eventually I found something more. I found the Word of God. And the Word led me beyond knowledge about creation to knowledge of the Creator.
A suggestion to my Readers
- With wisdom, I suggest all who are capable pursue a classical education – learning how to live wisely in this world of ours.
- In addition, pursue a trade which will provide for you and your family in times of trial where your classical education means little but what you can do with your hands puts food on the table.
- Most importantly, pursue knowledge of the Lord – increasing in wisdom and fear of the Lord – protecting your Salvation while encouraging others around you.
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
There it is. The riddle is answered. The answer was not merely something to seek. It was Someone to know.
So I am not finished learning. I am not finished discovering. I am not finished living. I am not finished with the adventure. I have spent a lifetime learning about the world God created. Now, with whatever time remains, I want to spend my life knowing the God who created it. That adventure does not end with age. It does not become obsolete. It does not exhaust itself. And it does not end when this earthly life ends. Perhaps the greatest adventure begins when we finally realize that the One we have been seeking all along is God Himself. So I press in. And I continue to press in. The adventure is not over.
Enough Said.
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
1 thought on “The Riddle”
I liked this one. In particular, the scripture Proverbs 1:7. Having grown up in a Christian home, I clung to this scripture as a youth and have meditated on it since. As I have matured from teen into a now “young senior” (I have an Aarp card and get free coffee at McDonalds), I realize I still need to be vigilant and understand the differences between knowledge, instruction and wisdom. In a world full of AI, influencers, and media slop…objectively knowing the difference matters.