Monday, February 27, 2012

I'll Fly Away

One day last week on my commute to the church office, I had the pleasure of watching some powered para-gliders enjoying the morning sun as they soared above the cool, quiet valley. I was amazed at how simple it looked – and how panicked I would be if it were to be me in the harness!

It did have me pondering mankind’s desire to fly: people have always been trying to get off the ground and up into the blue yonder. And while the invention of the aircraft is fabulous, there’s something particularly exhilarating about the thought of one’s face in the wind, feet in the air.

Last Sunday, our worship leader, Andrew, had us singing songs to remind us of heaven and of our temporary stay here on this planet. We sang, “Some bright morning, when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away.” It’s an old song, but it’s a truth that never goes out of fashion – one day, Jesus will return and both the living and the dead in Christ will rise to meet him in the air. Oh, I will fly – no powered para-glider necessary, thank you very much!

We’ve all heard the saying that it’s possible to be “so heavenly minded we’re no earthly good”, and while that may be true for some, I honestly don’t know of anyone like that. Our problem may be that we’re simply not heavenly-minded enough, that we’re so earthly-minded we’re no heavenly good!

The Apostle Paul was certainly “heavenly minded”. He wrote the Colossians, saying, “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1b-3). Paul was motivated to serve God HERE because he knew what – and Who – awaited him THERE. He would have us realize that heavenly thinking is not an escape from this life, but a reason to live a life of mission, with hope, joy and purpose!

When I set my heart and mind on heaven, I’m more inclined to share the Good News with others, to pray for those who need it, to give more generously, and to forgive more swiftly. As a church, a heavenly-mindset helps us to love one another, to keep the “main thing the main thing”, and to let side issues go. When we remember eternity, relationships become more important that programs, properties, personalities or policies.

Because one day, we will fly – we, and those who have gone before us, and all who have received God’s grace will meet the Lord in the air. And “what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus.”