Flight!

Have you ever compared air travel to that of spiritual travel by a church body or even by an individual Christian believer?  It may seem an odd thing to do, but there are certainly similarities.  Besides, what a unique environment to consider “vision.”

At 30,000 feet, how grand the view as one gazes out the cabin window—of yellow rays of sunshine, of blue skies, of white clouds, of green hillsides, of emerald lakes, of shadows cast upon the terrain, of civilization . . . and what and who is not under the glory and sovereignty of a powerful Creator (Psalm 103:19)?

But one does not start that airplane ride at 30,000 feet.  No, one starts at ground zero.  I mean—absolutely ground zero!  The Boeing 747 jet, for example, a very capable aircraft and here likened to the church or believer, sits still on the runway awaiting clearance for takeoff.  At the onset, one must accept, either consciously or subconsciously, by faith or grit, that God, in His gracious disclosure to humanity, has granted the capacity of mind and the inspiration of spirit to construct vessels worthy of flight in the first place.  Just as the psalmist declares, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:14).

As a plane accelerates down the runway for lift-off, engines screaming and adrenaline rushing, the Christian passenger claims, by faith, the safe travel of the plane in the name and authority of Jesus Christ.  (For the record, through fervent prayer, I have hijacked a number of airplanes in the name of the Lord!).  As a church body or individual who readies themself for lofty heights, we must likewise claim, by faith, our journey in the name and authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As the aircraft leaves the runway and begins its ascent upward, there is a fundamental struggle at hand as the powerful engines must overcome gravity and turbulence—the plane pulling itself so confidently upward, upward, and upward.  And yes, the awesome view in level flight is well worth the necessary struggles and inherent risks required to leave the constraints of the earth below.

Spiritually speaking, as we persist in our ascent “to the heavens” (to do God’s will, His work, His calling upon us as His children—both personally and corporately), we, too, must powerfully and confidently overcome through prayer, faith, obedience, and shameless persistence the forces that dare strive to ground us—Satan, the World, and the Flesh.  These opponents may present themselves in many forms, from subtle discouragement to outright, horrible spiritual battles.  But, dear Brother and Sister, we must not grow weary, trusting in the authority and skills of our seasoned Pilot, the Lord God Almighty—Yahweh, whom the Bible proclaims so confidently “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).  Certainly, He is able to carry us safely to the beautiful and higher altitudes of stable flight and conquering faith.

So, always remember—where there is vision, there is hope—and where there is hope, there is faith—and where there is genuine faith, there is the triune God of glory.

In Flight—Dennis