Where’s My Parachute?
Wedding invitations are usually formal, descriptive, elegant and brief. Being invited is, in and of itself, a compliment from the hosts, while not responding to the invitation is taken as a declination. If we successfully foster the correct relationship with our Lord, we will one day experience another event which symbolizes a blessed union with God’s family, the commitment for a permanent relocation and eternal life together. We’ve already received the invitation, but we don’t know the place, date or reply deadline. What do we do? Do we want to attend? “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). A royal priest would not take such an invitation for granted, but that is exactly who is invited to attend this once in a lifetime event.
A story was told recently of an event which occurred several years ago, but the same activity occurs every day. The symbolism, which was not intended for this purpose, was still too powerful for me to ignore. Facing death is probably the most intimidating experience we can ever encounter. For some, not everyone, the facing off with death might occur twice or even many times in a life. Surviving any type of near death experience has a profound impact on life from that moment on. On that note; regardless of the training we might have received, jumping out of an aircraft for the first time, from more than 2 miles above the earth’s rough hard surface is a frightening if not terrifying experience. The only thing between the jumper and certain death is the parachute. In the narrow space and brief moment between life and death, God is our parachute. Without God death is certain. With God life is certain. Those who have not been called “out of darkness” either can’t make this connection or simply don’t want to. But for those who’ve seen or heard about the light, to be walking around presuming they have this parachute strapped to their back without ever really checking on it, is mind boggling. Jesus tells us this about heaven; the gate is narrow, where entry is akin to squeezing through the eye of a needle, but we presume we’ll fit? If we’ve not RSVP’d, we’ve not spoken with the host and we really don’t know the groom personally, why are we so presumptuous? I can’t explain that. Read the bible, decide for yourself and respond accordingly to the invitation. The event could easily be held tomorrow.
JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE (share)
1 Comment
Leave a Response
Great common sense here. Wish I’d thought of that.