My pastor shared a story of a World War II vet whose job it was to make certain the bombs that were launched from the plane did indeed deploy. There was one event where the bomb got stuck on the doorway and this man, I will call him Joe, had to push it through. Hammer in hand, Joe began hammering on it (yes, God is merciful, isn't He?) and pushing on it. Finally the bomb released and was airborne, but so too was Joe. However, Joe was tethered to the plane and knew to hang on to the rope for his life depended on it. He swung back and forth on the tether being smashed into the bottom of the plane. Yet Joe hung on to that lifeline and used it, though disoriented, as the direction to move toward safety. Joe's crew mates slowly and agonizingly were pulling him back to safety.
This story has a spiritual application as well. Jesus Christ is our lifeline, our tether. We can do nothing in our own power to make our way to Heaven, it is by and through Jesus Christ that we are tethered to Him and our eternal destination. Yes, initially we must decide if we will grab hold of the free gift Christ offers and then hold on. The rest is already done having been accomplished at the Cross and through the resurrection of our King Jesus.
We may be battered and bruised while on this earth, yet IF we hold on to Jesus, He will never fail us. If Joe, the WWII vet, while swinging at the end of the tether, decided he no longer wanted to endure the pain and confusion of being smashed into the plane's belly, untied and let go of his tether, his lifeline to safety would have been lost and Joe perished. Joe endured the pain knowing that in the end was life.
Yes, we face pain and heartache while here on earth but we know that holding onto Jesus, His promises to us are eternal. We are being drawn Home and along the way are difficulties. If we belong to God through Christ Jesus, then all the promises of Scripture apply to us. We have indeed "grabbed" hold of the Lifeline. Each part of our life is used by our loving God, drawing us to Him and conforming us to the image of His Son. This life's sojourn is preparing us for our life with Him, face to face.
Are you ready?
Are you holding on? Are you walking with the vision of Home?
