Sunday, February 7, 2010

Brace for Impact

Time is filled with swift transition,
naught of earth unmoved can stand,
build your hopes on things eternal,
hold to God's unchanging hand.
Trust in Him who will not leave you,
whatsoever years may bring,
if by earthly friends forsaken
still more closely to Him cling*
On January 15, 2009, Flight 1549, headed to Charlotte, NC from New York's La Guardia Airport was forced to make an emergency landing in the chilly Hudson river after crashing into several birds causing their engines to fail. It has been a year since this miraculous journey and no doubt the 155 people that were on board and their families are still talking about this day. When many of the survivors were interviewed later many of them reported how several of them had begun to pray and continued to pray as they braced for impact.
Such is life; we often times step into situations, flights, if you will, without much thought of the possible dangers that lie ahead or the consequences that we may face as a result of our choices. While I am not pleading a case for fearful living I'm merely stating a fact that we go through most of our days just simply going through our days, period. It's not until we hit some turbulence or a thunder storm that we stop and consider God; and when we are looking death square in the face we realize what is truly important. We spend so much time chasing worldly dreams and possessions and so little time chasing a true relationship with the Father. It's not until we've run out of time that we "get it." I've heard it said so many times from those who have just visited someone lying on their death bed that the nearly departed looked so "peaceful." I like to imagine it is because they have finally, "gotten it." They are experiencing an unfamiliar peace that defies description to the onlooker. The dying person looks happy because perhaps if they had a relationship with God and have adhered to all flight instructions they are seeing Him, feeling Him and hearing Him clearly and they are excited to really begin their life. They've come to the end of their flight, the runway is clear and permission to land has been granted.
The good news is that we don't have to wait until we are on our death beds or seeing death rushing toward us at a million miles per hour; we can make the necessary adjustments in our lives now. God has already filed and approved our flight plans and they can be reviewed daily in His Holy Word. It's certain that we will experience trials, turbulence, and severe weather conditions but we have everything we need to insure a safe landing and that is the promise that He will never leave or forsake us. Our ticket is stamped and purchased with the blood of Jesus and that's a warranty that never fails! So, the next time you see a storm on the horizon and you're not sure if you should take the trip, just buckle your seat belt, hold on tight to your faith, send up a prayer and brace for impact.
Covet not this world's vain riches,
that so rapidly decay,
seek to gain the heav'nly treasures,
they will never pass away.
When your journey is completed,
if to God you have been true,
fair and bright the home in glory
your enraptured soul will view
Hold to His hand, God's unchanging hand,
Hold to His hand, God's unchanging hand;
build your hopes on things eternal,
hold to God's unchanging hand.*
Be Blessed,
Cynthia Fields
*Lyrics-Hold To God's Unchanging Hand-written by Jennie Wilson

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