NO PLACE TO LAND

 4471

Pt. 1

I ran across a video on social media today. I have never witnessed a video filmed inside a moving aircraft which was quite so violent.

Four flight crew members were in the course of being thrown around the inside of a Hurricane Hunter aircraft. It seemed as if any minute, they might lose control of the plane, and plummet into the waves, below.

This video depicted a recent incursion into Hurricane Melissa as it approached the island nation of Jamaica. The barometric pressure was lower than any October hurricane in recorded history. The highest recorded wind gust of 241 mph was greater than any wind gust ever clocked inside a hurricane.

Before the aircraft was forced to prematurely abandon its mission, the flight crew noticed what was at the same time utterly amazing, and utterly sobering. 

Dozens of birds of various kinds flying inside the eye of Hurricane Melissa... flying to and fro, hither and yon, unable to break out of the relative safety of the eye of the storm due to the extreme winds surrounding the eye wall... sentenced to almost certain death since, ultimately, sheer exhaustion would cause them to fall from the sky; into the thirty foot waves which waited beneath them.

And this particular report by the crew of the Hurricane Hunter aircraft struck me, to be at the same time, both so amazingly interesting, and utterly sad.

Pt. 2

As I reflected on this poignant story, it occurred to me that, as believers, we are very much like these unfortunate birds; with a very different, but delightful difference.

And I think of the lyrics of that old Gospel song.

"Here among the shadows in a lonely land
We're a band of pilgrims on the move
Burdened down with sorrows, shunned on every hand
Looking for a city built above."

Jesus promised that, "In the world, you will have tribulation..."

Trouble, trial, turmoil, temptation

Doubt, despair, depression, discouragement

Not unlike those birds with no place to land, and facing what appears to be a very uncertain future.

Not unlike the martyrs of Hebrews Chapter 11.

"There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated; the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground."

However, thankfully there is, as I have inferred, a definite difference between believers, and these unfortunate birds drifting to and fro inside one the most violent hurricanes which ever existed on the earth.

In the midst of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus assured His fearful disciples,

"Be not afraid. It is I." (John 6:20)

And in another book, also penned by Jesus' beloved disciple, we read,

"But this life... is passing away, but he who does the will of God endures forever." (1st John 2:17)

Post-script

No, dear believer, we are not like those unfortunate birds floating around in a violent hurricane; assured of ultimate, and certain destruction.

For you see, as uncertain and tremulous as life can be, whether we face persecution, hunger, homelessness, disease, betrayal or financial loss... stay encouraged!

This is not all there is!

We are looking for a city built above.

by Bill McDonald, PhD