Editor's Note: This is a guest blog post for our Global Impact Celebration 2016. Due to security purposes, the author must remain anonymous.
I love to fly. I especially, like to take people flying that have never flown in a small plane before.
Normally, I will take them with me as I walk around the plane and do the pre-flight checks showing them all the things I am doing to make sure the plane is in good shape to fly.
Next, as we get into the cockpit, I describe to them the sequence of events that are about to unfold as we take flight.
I will be talking on the radio to make sure that other traffic know what we are doing and to keep aware of other traffic around the airport. We will then taxi to the end of the runway and I will point the plan into the grass and give it power.
“Don’t worry," I tell them, “I know that this is not the runway, I am just checking the operation of the engine to ensure all is in working order. Then we will taxi to the edge of the runway and when I determine that there is no incoming aircraft, we will enter the runway and as soon as we line up down the center line I will give full throttle.
Since it is a small plane it will make quite a bit of noise and since we have a wind from our left side, I will take up with the left wing slightly low to keep us flying straight down the runway. There is a bit of wind today and so, it will be bumpy for the first part of our flight, but as we approach 3000 feet, we should have a smooth ride and you will really enjoy the experience.”
Why do I tell them all this?
Because if I didn’t, they would begin to wonder if I knew what I was doing. If I didn’t tell them, they would begin to wonder if I was crazy or if I have the ability to control the airplane.
They would fear an immediate crash, and they could easily panic thinking disaster was emanate. However, since I told them all these things before they occurred, they just sit back and think, “It is happening just like he said. He is in control. Yes, it is bumpy, but I am certain when we get a bit higher it will also be a smooth flight just like he said.” So now we can all enjoy a new experience -- bumps and all -- because we know what to expect.
He told us what the hearts of men would be like in the last days.
He told us of the bumps that we will encounter as we seek to walk with him.
He told us of those who would hate us for His Name’s sake.
He also told us the end of the story. “Greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world.”
Why then do we fear when we encounter the rise of ISIS or of social agendas that are directly opposed to the Gospel? Why do we fear the world is out of control as we see the Syrian Refugee crisis or the vast displacement of people around the world moving into our neighborhoods?
As a matter of fact, we should have confidence that the Lord is indeed in control, because he told us that the world would be like this before he returns.
In the midst of the chaos and darkness, His light shines brighter. Darkness cannot defeat us.
In the midst of these times, we have unfettered access to many who have never heard the Gospel and we are seeing many accept the Lord for the first time. Many who have had no access to the Gospel now live in our cities, towns and neighborhoods.
Will we fear, or will we find the voice of the first century church that so loved its enemies that it changed a great empire for the Gospel?
Yes, there are bumps.
Yes, there are dangers.
And, yes the giants are huge sometimes.
However, in the Name of the Lord, we slay giants. Yes, the waves are stirred and sometimes seem insurmountable, but when we set our eyes on Jesus, we walk on water.
Will we have the audacity to believe that the Great Commission is still for our time? Do we still believe that this command he gave us is still valid?
He said, “And lo I am with you, always even until the end of the age."
Only one question remains: “When He returns, will he find faith on the earth?”