I don’t know about you – but I love flying in airplanes. Here’s why:
The average walking speed of a human is 3.1mph.
Average running speed? 8mph. Usain Bolt was clocked at 27.78mph – but he’s a freak.
The highest vertical jump of a human? 60 inches.
It’s pretty amazing what our little legs and arms can do. Every year it seems like someone somewhere is pushing the limits and breaking another record. But let’s face it: Our minion-like legs, arms, and feet can only take us so far, only so fast, and only so high.
No matter how much strength we muster up. No matter how much blood, sweat, and tears we shed. No matter how hard we work. No matter what kind of shoes we wear, technology we buy, or how red the cape is on our back, we will still fall short.
We are still human.
This is why I love flying in airplanes. The key word here is IN. You see, in order to travel at an average speed of 560mph, and an average altitude of 37,500 feet, you have to get IN the airplane.
I love the classic kid by the airport terminal window who watches the airplanes take off. With arms spread wide, he zooms around the room, weaving in and out of strangers.
But not until we actually make the decision to walk down the ramp and INTO the airplane, will we actually be able to do what the airplane does. It’s almost like we admit that our strength and ability won’t cut it. Stepping INTO an airplane is our way of saying, “On my own, I can’t get to New Jersey as fast as I need to. I need something bigger, better, more powerful, and more reliable.”
We may not fully understand how the airplane achieves such great speed and heights, but we trust it. We surrender to it. We strap ourselves in and entrust our lives to it. We are at its mercy.
What if our relationship with God is kind of like our relationship with an airplane?
Some Scripture may help:
In 2 Cor. 5:17, Paul describes the transformation of a new believer saying, “If anyone is IN Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come.”
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. When we step INTO a relationship with Jesus, the sky becomes the limit, not our abilities. With his power, strength, love and grace, we will achieve and discover new heights and new depths of our potential.
When we strap ourselves in and allow God take control of our lives, we discover a kind of freedom unmatched by the promises of this world. We stop trying to BE the plane and just entrust ourselves to it. IN Jesus, we enjoy a kind of security, safety, and stability that the things of this world just can’t provide.
Forgiveness of our sins? Check.
Hope in the midst of despair? Check.
Joy in the midst of sorrow? Check.
Light in darkness? Check.
Strength despite weakness? Check.
You see, when we are IN Christ, we can actually do what He does and possess what He possesses. All that He has is ours – if we just trust Him.
So are you watching Jesus through a window or are you soaring to new heights with Him?
What is it you need to step OUT of in order to step INTO a relationship with Jesus?
May we be IN Christ, because He wants to see us fly.