Flying By Instruments

“Any person who takes flying lessons comes to the time when he or she must learn to fly the plane by the instruments only, rather than sight. Why is that so important? Some day that pilot may be in a storm and experience vertigo–the loss of the sense of equilibrium. When that happens, the senses can’t tell you anything about where you’re going–up or down, straight or to the side. At that point, the pilot must not trust his senses; he must rely on the instruments.”*

There are times in life when it’s easy to pilot the plane of life.  Skies are crystal clear and the sun is shining bright.  Sure, we still need God’s help, but we are doing pretty well, it seems, using our own senses and skills.  But there are other times when it’s difficult to see the way ahead.  The fog of confusion sets in.  Clouds of doubt envelop us, obscuring the sun, and we can’t get our bearings.  It’s in these times we must trust God’s guidance rather than lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).  We must lean on faith instead of sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

This makes me think of the woman with the bleeding problem (Mark 5:25-34).  She had tried all the things she could see and things had just got worse.  As a last resort, she began to fly by the instruments of faith.  Even though her bleeding made her unclean, she risked reaching out to touch just the garments of the One Who had healed others.  I can imagine her closing her eyes as she did it.  Did she dare hope?  Would it work for her? The words of Jesus say it all: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:34).

Flying by instruments in spiritual matters can be initially frightening.  But as you learn to trust the gauges, it gets easier.  God will never lead you astray.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/variety-of-illustrations-featured/

 

Resurrection Power

“In the city of Hanover is a graveyard which has been closed for a number of years—the Garden Churchyard. Owing to its antiquated monuments and the fact of its being the resting place of a number of celebrated characters, it awakens the liveliest curiosity. A few paces east of the unassuming little church in the graveyard is a monument tottering from its foundation. It is built in the form of steps, and the massive stones are secured by heavy iron clasps. The monument was erected in the year 1782.

"Beside the usual family inscriptions, at the base of the monument are engraved these arrogant lines: “The sepulchre, purchased for all eternity, is not permitted to be opened.” Opposed to this determination of man, a beech seed, perhaps carried by the wind, found its way into a crevice of the foundation. In the course of years this little seed grew to be a strong, luxuriant tree, mocked the proud inscription of the monument, raised the massive stones from their foundation, and rent the strong iron clasp asunder. This open grave reminds the visitor of the mutability of earthly scenes, and the fallacy of man’s resolution to project plans to last for “all eternity.”*

The grave was intended by the Adversary of humanity to be our tomb for all eternity. Aided by sin and death, he held all the sons and daughters of Adam captive in the realm of the dead. But God had other plans. Not unlike the beech seed in the story above, God raised up a shoot from the stem of Jesse (Isa. 11:1,10; Rom. 15:12) Who would shatter Satan’s death grip into a million pieces. By the power of God, the tomb couldn’t hold the Messiah. That same power sets the believer in Him free from the law of sin and death as well (Rom. 8:2; 1 Cor. 15:55-57). Praise God for His resurrection power! The grave cannot imprison us!

God loves you!

Mike

*Dictionary of Anecdote, Incident, Illustrative Fact, Selected and Arranged for the Pulpit and the Platform, Walter Baxendale

 

Square Pegs And Round Holes

“A parable tells of a group of animals who decide to start a school. The curriculum included swimming, running, climbing and flying. The duck, an excellent swimmer, had problems in other areas, so he majored in climbing, running and flying. As a result, his swimming suffered greatly. The rabbit, a superior runner, spent so much time trying to learn other areas that his speed began to fade. The squirrel, who had rated an “A” in climbing, dropped to a “C” because the instructors spent hours trying to teach him to swim and fly. And the eagle was disciplined for soaring to the top of the trees when he was being taught to climb” (John C. Huffman).

Not everyone has the same skill set. And yet, we struggle with that reality. It shows up when we try to force everyone into the same mold. This is the external pressure that comes from someone who says “If I’m good at this, everyone else should be as well.” But it can also crop up as internal pressure when we devalue our true giftedness at the expense of reaching for something that falls outside our abilities.

This problem is at least part of what Paul is dealing with in 1 Corinthians. The church there was being divisive over spiritual gifts. Some gifts were being valued and promoted over others. Notice what the apostle says: “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”” (1 Corinthians 12:18–21).

The church needs square pegs AND round holes! Thank God for the diversity found in His body. Find what you are good at and do it! If you can stretch and learn something new, that’s great. But don’t ignore your gift.

God loves you!

Mike

 

Dead Or Alive?

The Feb. 24, 2024 issue of World Magazine includes an interesting piece in the section called “Quick Takes.” Authored by John Dawson, it is titled “Proof Positive.” The sub title reads “A U.K. woman is weary of telling the government she’s still alive and kicking.” Here is her story: “Eileen McGrath has repeatedly told government officials in the United Kingdom that she’s not dead. So far, they’re not taking her word for it. In an interview published Jan. 20 by The Guardian, the retired teacher said she’s been having trouble with her pension check since 2020. The 85-year-old has received multiple letters from a government agency inquiring about her living status. Each time, she wrote back affirming she was still alive. In December, she noticed her pension checks had stopped. Only after she complained further did her checks finally arrive in January. “Fortunately, I have enough money in my savings account to weather these incidents but I am sure that’s not the case for everyone,” McGrath told the paper. “Besides which, it’s unpleasant and distressing to be told periodically that they think you are dead.”

How frustrating!  To know you are alive but to have others think you are dead.  This story caused me to reflect on a similar but different situation in the New Testament.  In Revelation, the Risen Lord directs John to write messages from him to seven different churches.  Notice some of his words to Sardis: “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1).

Do you see the difference?  Eileen McGrath knew she was physically alive, but others thought she was physically dead.  Some in the Sardian church thought they were spiritually alive, but Jesus knew they were spiritually dead. Thankfully, this spiritual death wasn’t fatal.  “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God” (Revelation 3:2).

God loves you!

Mike 

Let The Word Work

“But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.” At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned” (Acts 24:24–27).

Felix, the Roman governor, already had some knowledge about the Christian movement (Acts 24:22). After all, his job was to keep an eye on things for Rome in that part of the empire. But up to this point, it hadn’t become personal. That was about to change. The apostle Paul is given an opportunity to share the word of God and Felix is confronted with a “come to God” moment.

Conviction can be frightening. The word of God has the ability to get us to face the call of God on our lives. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12–13).

Perhaps the word of God has been working on your heart. Maybe it has exposed some dark areas that need attention and you too have been frightened. Don’t be scared! God is trying to open your heart to the truth (Acts 16:14). Righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come don’t have to be feared by the one who surrenders their heart to God.

God loves you!

Mike