There is a sense of the unknown. A sense of ambiguity.
There are steps, gates, conveyor belts, security measures.
There are people. Lots of them. Busy and bustling ones. Contemplative and weary ones.
There are planes. Transportation routes. Weather reports. Voices on screens. Food of the convenient variety.
There are screens telling you to look everywhere but at the real world.
And there is an escape.
Departure.
When you’re in the air, moving away from the world itself – You float. You glide. You fly.
You rise above.
The landscapes are stretched beneath. The horizon extends before you.
And we look down, not up.
We feel small. We realise we are one of many. A little piece in a larger system of things.
And we realise something profound.
There are heights we cannot know, depths we cannot reach.
There are mountains we will not climb and valleys that will continue to sink.
And through it all – there are skies that speak of the Light that has come to the world.
There is an infinite line in the sky, an etching of the Lord’s limitless love.
And there is an echo.
Arrival.
When you’re in the air, you see the world through a window.
And through this frame, comes an understanding that what we see will not set us free.
So long as we look through the glass, we do not see clearly.
We see now in a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12).
What we do not see is love. Not fully. Not complete.
But we can know love.
Though you have not seen him, you love him (1 Peter 1:8).
In Christ, love has come.
For God so loved the world (John 3:16).
This is a love that frees.
For love comes from God.
And God is love.
Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16).
Until we see love face to face, we seek intimacy in all the wrong things.
We long to connect with possessions, places and people.
But what frees is a love that is complete.
And perfect love has come into the world.
And is perfecting you and me (1 John 4:17).
There is no fear here.
Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).
Jesus is love with flesh on.
He repeatedly calls his followers not to fear (John 14:27; Mark 5:36; Mark 6:50).
“Take heart; It is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27)
For he has overcome.
The cross and empty grave declare the power of his love.
His victorious love.
A love that conquers.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35)
Here is a love that rules over our false loves. Over our idolatry and investment in the temporal.
There is nothing that will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-9)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35)
His love is not earned, but received.
A love that frees.
A love that is so fearless, relentless and limitless.
A love that draws us into eternity, where we will be with the One our souls love forever.
Now, we can only know in part.
Knowing is a form of intimacy.
For, as we are fully known (loved) by God, then we shall know (love) fully (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Love has come and is coming into the world. Christ will return.
Love brings together the departure and the arrival, the arrival and the departure.
Rising above, on airplane wings, there is a parallel to the promise for those who hope in him, that they will rise up as if they had eagles’ wings (Isaiah 40:31).
And between the departure and arrival, arrival and departure is the window where we wait.
From here we see there is an order to things.
Looking out over fields, patterns on the plains, there is structure.
Who writes the rules? Greater still, who rules?
All rules are a shadow of what is to come. The substance is Christ. (Colossians 2:17)
There is One above who watches over, whose ways are sure, steadfast, despite the seasons.
There is One above. And all is under Him.
So flying is much more than a journey.
Flying is a glimpse at God’s rule and reign.
His authority and authorship of heaven and earth.
His power and dominion over the things that are seen and that which is unseen.
His glory and goodness despite creation’s cries and the conditions of climate and culture.
Flying is not rising above all things, it is recognising the One who is above all things.
Our hearts have a home and a hope in the One who sits on the throne.
For Christ is the King of Kings.
The king of our hearts, and love of our lives.
(Literally. Eternal life is on the line!)
Let every heart enthrone him
♥
Note: I am no theologian, but I encourage you to learn of the Lord’s love for you in His word!
