Now arriving at gate 4 God's Airways flight number 2 from Olympia, WA. Passenger Steven Hawley disembarking. The angels yelling, whistling, screaming and singing glory to God in the highest! He's arrived home! You can't even imagine how I long for that flight and arrival. It'll be a one way trip and well worth the waiting. Oh yeah, and I won't have to be searched, carry 3 kinds of picture identification or check any baggage! Such a deal! The Bible tells us that we will enter into his presence with thanksgiving and laughter! I'm imagining that Jesus himself will be there to give me that welcome home hug! Can it get any better? Yes, it could happen today! Well, maybe my work on earth isn't done. I don't want to be so heavenly minded that I'm no earthly good. There are enough of those. So, for today I'm glad that I arrived on the right side of the grass! I'm alive! I'm glad that I arrived with my family and friends intact. Okay, my dogs as well. Cats don't care as long as they are waited upon. I'm glad that you arrived here to read this today and perhaps God will be speaking to you. The big question that comes up is not the arrival but being ready for arriving. Are we really a people who are ready?
In my flesh I think I'm ready. When I allow the Holy Spirit to inspect my life; it's clear that I'm not nearly as ready as I think. Besides the work to be done in my life (ongoing sanctification) there is the work I'm to do in other peoples lives. There are the orphans to care for, the widows who need help, those in prison and in need of visiting to name a few. Perhaps the question I need to ask myself is whether or not I'm doing my part to bring a bunch of people with me to heaven or not? I'm harder on myself than anyone I know. That's because I know what's inside of me even if others don't. So, when I look at me I lose track of what Jesus sees. He sees a portal to others that is blocked by my standing in the way rather than being the way. Jesus desperately wants us to be a part of the plan and not a barrier to the plan. It's all about being who he wants us to be, doing what he wants us to do and saying what he wants us to say. It is his airplane. Jesus doesn't fly alone though. He has with him the Father and the Holy Spirit. The three in one have whatever part of us that we surrender. Imagine arriving at your destination without preparation. That's the space so many people live in today. Just think about it for a minute. There are millions of people on planet earth that are not saved. They will not be making that flight. They won't arrive in heaven. They will arrive in hell. And what part will I have played in either decision?
I took a flight once to Chicago from Seattle. Somewhere in that direct flight (no stops) my luggage was diverted to St. Louis, MO. I arrived without my clothing, personals and needs for the business trip. The airline gave no excuse, no alternative and no reassurance that my luggage would be retrieved. Imagine that you have prepared for the past 3 years for this dream trip to wherever it is you really want to visit. You have planned, arranged for care for the pets, visited your friends and relatives and rewritten your will. There are contingencies that you have attended to and all your affairs are in place. You've arranged for a ride to the airport and are travelling first class. Days before your trip you get your boarding passes online and have passed your itinerary around to those who need it. All is done. The day of your trip comes, you arrive at the airport and you've stood in the security line an hour before coming to the agent who checks your id. You hand over your documents and they enter your information into the computer. They advise you to step aside and hand your paperwork to another security supervisor who informs you that you are on the "No fly" list. You are crushed! Defeated after a long argument with the agent you call your friend to come back and pick you up. Your luggage is off loaded and you go home. After some research you discover you are on the "no fly" list because you neglected to ask Jesus into your heart when you had the chance. Every time I think I'm about to arrive...it's your choice.
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