I have two favorite parts of flying. The first three minutes after take off and the three minutes just before we land.
Recently I was flying back from Freedom Conference in Ohio where I ministered alongside Lindell Cooley, who is pretty much the epitome of wisdom mixed with coolness. As we were lifting off I looked down and noticed a ton of trails in the woods, maybe some man’s four wheeler or hunting trails. They zigged this way and zagged that way and the thought occurred to me that if I were on the ground I would have no clue which path to take to find my way home!
Many of us look at the trails in life the same way. When you are looking at situations from the ground level they can often seem overwhelming. When you come to a fork in the road and you can’t see around the next bend, worry and stress can enter in and cause us to forget that we don’t have to view these issues from only one perspective.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:4-7)
This verse invites us to look at our path from a different vantage point! You see, when I was taking off from Pittsburgh International I didn’t just see a little bit of these paths. My view point afforded me a bird’s eye view to see around that next corner.
To see over that hill.
To see past these problems.
This verse from Ephesians tells us that we aren’t looking at a fork in the road trying to decide which way to go. It says that we are seated in a Delta 747 flying above it and we have the ability to see clearly which direction we should take.
Important decisions are an opportunity to come up higher! You don’t have to walk in confusion anymore at ground level. You are quite literally seated WITH and IN Christ IN Heavenly places. The next time you start to let doubt creep in on your issues remind yourself that you have a God’s Eye View!
Three Quick Perspective Changers:
1) The Cross :: When you come up on some of life’s junk take two minutes to think intentionally about the cross. If God can conquer hell and death and the grave he can conquer your mortgage.
2) Simple Prayer :: ‘Prayer changes things’ is the corniest and the truest kitchen sign in any grandmother’s house. Take a few minutes and release life into your situation.
3) Force Reality :: Most people don’t live in Ephesians 2:4-7 because they don’t keep it constantly in front of them. Change your perspective by actively thinking about your position in Christ.