Friday, April 22, 2016

Flying Solo .. But You Are Not On Your Own

My Utmost For His Highest
 
We all, with unveiled face, beholding…the glory of the Lord… —2 Corinthians 3:18
 
“In the early stages of the Christian life, disappointments will come— people who used to be lights will flicker out, and those who used to stand with us will turn away. We have to get so used to it that we will not even realize we are standing alone. Paul said, “…no one stood with me, but all forsook me….But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…” (2 Timothy 4:16-17). We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When “important” individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do— to look into the face of God for ourselves.[…] A Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to talk to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware— “…Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him” (Exodus 34:29).[…] The secret of the servant’s life is that he stays in tune with God all the time.”  CHAMBERS
 
I was thinking about flight school as I was reading Chambers this morning.  When I was in the beginnings of flight school, they trained us to fly a helicopter that had very simple controls.  The instructor pilot was sitting next to me.  When the aircraft was about to get the best of me, he would take the controls, stabilize everything and then have me try again.  As the days past, he had to do that less often until he was just going along for the ride.  But, I thought that he was an essential part of the helicopter.  If he was not next to me, there was no way that it would fly.  Then one day after we landed, he got out and told me to fly it without him.  They call that a solo flight.  Well, to my surprise, I discovered that he was not what was keeping the helicopter in the air.  There was some other power doing that.  He had been my teacher, my “discipler”, if you  will.
 
With respect to my faith, I have had a number of men in my life who have done the same for me.  They were a part of my life for a while.  I got used to them being there.  And then, one day, they were not.  I was flying solo.  But even though they were not in the seat next to me, the source of the power was still there.  It was up to me to apply what I had been taught.  Like flying the helicopter, I was not a perfect pilot.  I made mistakes, but not mistakes unto death.  There are days that I long for an opportunity to walk with, serve with, talk with, pray with those men.  But now, I am the one making disciples.  I am in the seat next to the student pilot.  Showing and teaching and watching.  A co-worker asked me, “Are you a mentor?”  I was surprised at her question, but on reflection, realized that I am indeed.  How did that happen?  Two things I think.  First I had good instructor pilots.  Second, I applied what they taught me as I fly through life.  I realize that even though it appears that I am flying solo, the source of the power is in me, the Spirit of God.  And He is in you as well.  (Acts 1:8)  you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
 
(Matthew 28:18-20) “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”
 
Charley Elgin

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