LightGrams
June 29, 2023
Volume 27, Number 18
Phil Stringer was no different than the other passengers waiting to board a plane. The flight from Oklahoma City to Charlotte earlier this week was delayed, an announcement that no passenger wants to hear. By the time the flight was ready to board – 18 hours later! – all of the passengers had booked other flights or had simply left the airport. But not Stringer.
Stringer was the only passenger on the flight to Charlotte. He spoke later about how the flight crew had been called in, and that he felt bad they had come in just for him. But during the trip Stringer and the crew interacted as crew and passengers rarely do. Their attention was focused on their sole passenger, and by the end of the route they had become friends.
I don’t fly often, but my travels in more recent years have been the opposite of Stringer’s. I note that almost every seat is taken, and leg and elbow room is at a premium. If only we could have the entire plane to ourselves! (But what’s the likelihood of that happening again?!)
Jesus once announced a route that would end in a most desirable destination – life. Based on other passages, we know He was speaking of more than biological life; He was announcing eternal life, and a life on earth that is abundant (John 10:10). You would assume that the lines of people waiting to get on that path would be long, like long lines at popular theme parks.
“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). That’s a shocking revelation! More people will choose the path to destruction (Matthew 7:13) than will choose the way of life. If the Lord operates the way businesses on earth do, might He just abandon the offer altogether?
That’s not Jesus’ style. Hear what He said on another occasion: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). In one sense that parable doesn’t represent reality. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Truth be told, all 100 of those sheep are lost. So, was Jesus confused? What point was He trying to make?
His point is this: If you or I happened to be the only person on earth that was lost, Jesus would have left heaven to come find us. In the eyes of the Lord, each person matters. At the end of time Jesus will not say, “Oh, well; you can’t win them all.” No, for every person who chose the wrong path Jesus will shed tears of sorrow.
It’s just as the song says, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Though others around you don’t choose to board the flight to heaven, Jesus will send a crew to pilot you home. Even if you’re the poorest person on earth, you’ll receive heaven’s VIP treatment; that’s according to Jesus in Luke 16:19-22.
Your flight to life is boarding. It may seem to be delayed but be patient. It’s well worth the wait.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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