Staying on Course

As a Private Pilot I have logged about 65 hours as Pilot-In-Command of a single-engine airplane.  Flying is such a thrill for me.  I love seeing everything from above and experiencing the weather up close.  My particular license, however, does not allow me to fly into clouds.  Although I have received some basic training in the clouds, I need an Instrument Rating to be safe and qualified.  An Instrument Pilot is trained in such a way that he can rely solely on his instruments in adverse weather.  He has no need to look outside at the ground below.  In fact, if he is in the clouds all he would see is a blur of white.  Looking outside while flying in clouds is highly discouraged.  It results in extreme disorientation called "vertigo."  It is not good!  (Pilot's often say that hell must be an eternal state of vertigo!)  A pilot must constantly monitor his instruments and not be fixated on the clouds to avoid vertigo.  It is this methodical scan of the instrument panel that keeps the plane on course.

In our lives we are often distracted by what's outside the cockpit when we should be focussed on our instrument panels.  In life these distractions show up in many forms.  They're not all bad.  Sometimes they're good.  But distractions simply keep us from God's best.  What are your distractions?

The most important part of my life is knowing my Lord Jesus Christ.  He has a destination for me.  If I am distracted by the clouds (and get vertigo) I am going to be off course.  Even a slight deviation and I'm not going to end up where I need to be.  The good news is that He has given us His Word as an "instrument panel" to keep us on course.  It is the true compass and always points to Him.

As a final note, when you're flying in a white-out of clouds it is absolutely pointless to try flying while looking outside.  It is impossible to simply hold the plane level!  Your mind plays tricks on you!  Trust me.  It's the same way with our lives.  We cannot fly alone.  We must rely on the Holy Spirit.  I'll leave you with this airplane analogy->  The Holy Spirit is the airplane.  The Bible is the instrument panel.  The cross is the illuminated landing strip.

Grant J

Psalm 22! Psalm 22!

I learned something very interesting the other day in my theology class.  Here's the set-up.  When Jesus was on the cross he cried out, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"  This was not a statement of doubt or disbelief on Jesus' part.  Rather, it was a statement of faith!  He was crying out the fulfillment of Psalm 22 which was written hundreds of years before he was born (let alone his crucifixion).  Back then Psalms did not have numbers ascribed to them like they do now.  To indicate a certain passage, you would simply state the first verse.  Psalm 22:1 says, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"  So, it's like he was crying out "Psalm 22!, Psalm 22!"  Jesus knew exactly what was happening.  It was in fulfillment of Scripture.

GrantJ

He Makes the Rough Places Smooth

There are a lot of avenues to explore in seminary.  Lately I've been praying for specific direction from God; a vision if you will.  I have several areas of interest, but I don't have one that really jumps out and screams, "Grant over here!"  My desire for a vision is simply my desire to be where God wants me.  By design, He created us to be most passionate and alive in our vision/purpose.  

That said, today's reading from Isaiah got me excited.  In 45:2 God says, "I will go before you and make the rough places smooth."  This got me thinking.  If God is going before me, I have to seek Him in order to end up in the right place.  Further, He will make the rough places smooth.  Too often we forget that God is omnipresent, which means He exists apart from time.  He is with us right now and He is already in the future.  (A mind-blowing reality!)   If I want to have a vision from God I must continually seek Him.   Since He has gone out before me, He is working within my vision right now.  Better yet, He is preparing it for me (and me for it).  And finally, He is making the rough places smooth.  Too cool.

GrantJ