Climbing, Coasting, and Crashing

I've been thinking a lot about what people really want out of life. Sometimes we find ourselves crashing and burning. Slamming into sin, watching our lives fall apart under us, finding ourselves knee deep in a world we never imagined for ourselves. No one dreams of crashing and burning. And yet, this is the place that we can find ourselves.

When we crash, often the response is to turn to God. After all, God can make us soar again. God lifts us up under his wings and elevates us above the clouds. He rockets us forward to new heights. It only makes sense that when we are flat on our backs we would turn to the Father.

The thing is, most people really don't want to go quite as high as God wants to propel them. They are content flying under Satan's radar. They have been happy for years just coasting and don't want to get too close to God's glory. After all, God's glory may be good, it may be filled with joy and peace and love, but it also can be hot around the collar. Where God dwells, men are exposed to the truth of themselves. People who get extreme for God are also the types who are criticized, martyred, and who become social outcasts. One can't keep his or her feet in this world and soar with God at the same time. A decision must be made.

Truth be told, most people just like to coast. They enjoy the freedom of flying under the radar, simple and free. With their heads in the clouds, people want to glide. The thing is, God didn't make us to glide. God made us to shine like stars high above the world we live in. Thus, coasting eventually results in a loss of altitude, a drop in cabin pressure, crashing and burning. People who choose to coast (and don't climb towards God) just end up crashing.

If you ask people, would you rather be Holy or Happy, most people will say, "Happy." Most people just want to get by. They like flying gently with the birds. Fact is, that kind of flying is for the birds. We need people willing to climb, willing to soar above the clouds where its hot. We need people willing to go the distance with God, to an altitude of holiness. Cruising has gotten us nowhere. Cruising is getting us killed. Climbing, now that's where its at!