Safe Landing

July 6, 2013: Asiana flight 214 made a crash-landing at the San Francisco airport. Two died and many were injured. Experts are investigating the cause, but it seems clear a connection with the pilots' failing to fully switch on the navigational landing controls may be at the heart of things.

Misunderstandings
It may look like I'm straying off-topic, but this morning my thoughts fell on an often pondered dilemma—why does wrong often look or feel so good and good seem sometimes so unexciting. It isn't always so and for some it isn't quite as strong a pull as for others. But why does the enemy seem so in favour of our having fun and being happy, and God seem so often against it?

My reading for this morning included this verse, which triggered all this:

The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~Jesus

Instead of the pitchforked, red, torturing creature of modern depiction, the enemy is described in the Bible as beautiful, an "angel of light," one of the greatest of angelic beings, but also one like a lion crouching to devour (us) his prey. So in summary, he can appear attractive but with your and my destruction as his aim.

(Authenticity test: the enemy has taken countless lives, but never once offered his own for you.)

James in his letter to the church wrote:

16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Using Proper Navigation

And what does this have to do with an airline crash? 

In flight, I imagine there are many times an inexperienced pilot must feel tempted to doubt his navigational equipment. When entering storms or dark clouds, uncertainty must creep in about the direction or altitude. Should you follow your own feelings and instincts or trust the controls? It is even possible, as with flight 214, to believe you are trusting the controls only to discover in a fiery crash that you never fully switched them on.

Landing the Plane

Doing what feels good or makes us happy is like ignoring the navigational system and choosing to fly on our instincts. The cost is greater than what affects you or me. The hurt jars many who depend on us. 

James knew how deceptive feelings are when he reminded his people not to be "deceived." Real and lasting good is from our Father, who does not change with modern ideas and fades. He truly desires what is for our best (that we may have "full" life), but we must trust His navigation of our way Home even when it doesn't feel right. Trusting anything else will lead to wounds, separation, destruction and loss.

Let's daily check who is in control.

The Unfallen Hero

Have you ever had a hero fall? It may have been someone close to you: a parent, spouse, pastor or teacher. It may have been someone far off and untouchable. The fall may have been moral or ethical; they may have died or merely disappointed your expectations.

If you have a full life, you'll see your heroes fall. Similar to nature's testimony of God's character, this common occurrence should reveal to everyone the truth that we all "have sinned and continue to fall short of God's glory."

What initiated this pondering was a post on Tim Challies' blog about one of my heroes (dead before I was born, which usually makes them less likely to disappoint). Challies brought up discrepancies raised by scholars over some of my hero's beliefs and a discussion started about whether the difference matters, since we've learn so much from him still.

The man, the discussion are a moot point here. What matters is that I struggled with the fallen image, true or not. I had thought the inspiration I had gained went beyond him, but when I was disappointed I realized just how focused on him it was.

As I wrestled with all this, another insight arose. It's good to be disillusioned! Everyone should be.

Once your star has fallen, you notice a brighter light in the night sky. Every time an image tumbles, I look up and God is still there.

What about you? Have you been disappointed by someone? Do you hold bitterness towards them or towards God because of their failure? Maybe you were clinging too much to a person, a sinner just like you.

The grace we have received, we also must give. . . even to our fallen heroes. Compare their faded light and your flickering light against the blinding light of God's faithfulness and love. You and I disappoint Him, but He never lets go.

. . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1b-3)

A Ringbearer

Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.

Gandolf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. 

There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.

Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.

Have you ever felt like Frodo? You've been dealt a hand of circumstances, and you'd rather fold than play the game.

I believe we all enter this cave of Moria at least once in our lives. Sometime it's God's own words that meet us in that dark place; sometimes they come through a friend.

We all need to be reminded. Our sovereign God has a purpose for the mission He's given you. There is a reason you are here at this time in history, in the country you are living, in the family you were born into, in the state of health or sickness with which you live.

Unlike Frodo, however, you don't depend on a wizard who can be hindered or killed nor a creature, once like yourself, who now is both your guide and threat. No. You have a High Priest that is risen and sitting at the right hand of Yahweh of Hosts interceding for you, if you belong to Him. If you are His child, you have His Spirit inside of you directing you on the path that is good to take and pleading with the Father for all your needs (needs of which you yourself may not be aware).

This doesn't mean the path is any easier than the path Tolkien imagined for Frodo. It doesn't mean you won't have friends desert you, disappoint you, try to discourage you. It doesn't mean you won't lose your life or the life of one you hold dear.

It does mean, you will never walk alone. And everything that happens to you is in the control of your Creator, who has a bigger plan than just for your life or mine, but who loves us more than we can comprehend.

The world may look dark. We may see grief and defeat all around us, and may wish to return to "the good old days" of our imagined world. That is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

Be faithful to the mission in which God had you embark. He is the Author of the story, so it will end well.

Don't Forget to Remember

Tonight is the eve of my birthday. For over twenty years I have had an unbroken tradition of writing a farewell letter on this night to my age.

It may sound corny, but there is a feeling of accomplishment to remember and summarize a year of one's life. This tradition both validates my experiences and, maybe in a sense, puts the year to rest.

Some years, I slip in pictures of trophies won. Other years, like with filing taxes, I list my losses. Every year, I have more blessings to mention than I have time, paper, or energy to mark.

God often told His people to remember, to write down what they had learned. He commanded the kings of Israel to write out a portion of the law before they began their rule. If they had obeyed, I wonder how different their history would have been. God is sovereign and knew they'd disobey; nevertheless, the prescription is still written for us to follow.

At the Jew's national birth into the land of Israel, God admonished:

Write [My law] on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates...—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:9,12a)

We are apt to forget not just God's law, but also His faithfulness; answers to prayer that at the time astounded us, now are a distant and vague memory.

Many passages in the Bible reminisce God's faithful dealings with His people:

I will remember the deeds of Yahweh; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds.
Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples.
With Your mighty arm You redeemed Your people...
Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters,
though Your footprints were not seen. (Psalm 77:11-15, 19)

Perhaps writing a letter to yourself seems too silly. How about to your son, daughter, niece, nephew, or a younger sibling? Write down what God has done for you and how He has amazed you by His grace. If they are children, seal it for them to read years from now after you are gone.

Point out His footprints in your life. Let's not let the stories of God's faithfulness die with us.

How has God been faithful to you this week, month, or year? I'd love to hear.