Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew
their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run
and not grow weary,
they will walk
and not be faint.
The other weekend I went to Daytona Beach for a meeting.
While there I enjoyed people para-sailing. The para-sail was connected by an extreme
extra-long cord, to a motor boat. The speed of the boat kept it up in the air,
guiding it through the wide open space of the sky.
As I watched I was amazed as the people were actually
flying without the aid of a motor, and had effortlessly reached the heights of
the sky. And as long as they stayed connected to the speed boat via the
umbilical-looking attachment, they would never fall.
It is this that reminded me of a passage in the Bible:
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on
wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint." (Is 40:31 NIV)
Just like these people, we, as Christians, can soar way
up high, just like eagles! But we, too, have to rely on an
"umbilical" cord that attaches us to our Maker and Savior. This
"umbilical" cord is called trust.
But trust doesn't come too easily, especially nowadays.
To trust completely we have to set aside our pride, as
well as all of our petty preoccupations. We have to put our entire focus on the
person we trust. Only then can we soar way up to heights we would never have
imagined. Gone are the addictions. Gone are the worries. Gone is any
selfishness and unforgiveness.
"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt 6:33-34 NIV)
This is where most of us go wrong. We are so attracted by
our own obsessions that we never find the time to start trusting anyone, much
less the one many sadly call the "Man upstairs". And that's where we
continue to live a mundane life with all its whistles called addictions
attached to it.
We all fall short of the assured promise: "All these
things will be given to you as well."
It seems to be human nature that as soon as we are
experiencing any kind of soaring in the heights of the sky, we immediately take
out our pocket knife and severe the cord that keeps us in the air. "We can
do it by ourselves" we claim, only to discover over and over again that it
is not so, after we crash.
If we only took the time, we might realize one day that
"soaring like eagles" is truly a reality for those who set aside
their pride. "God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever
imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing
us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within
us." (Eph 3:20 The Message)
We can fly like eagles, but only if we truly stay
connected to God in all humility with the "umbilical" cord called
total trust.
We have a lot to thank our Heavenly Father for. Not only
is He our Creator and our Savior, not only has He sent us numerous love letters
through His Word, not only has He provided a guide to help us through the chaos
of this world, He has made it possible for us to fly above all the mediocrity
of this life.
Dear Lord, Thank You for being there to lead and guide
us. Thank You for being the umbilical cord that gives us life. Help us not do
things that would separate us from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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