Overcome

Have you had an experience that changes the way you look at your life?  Most of us have.  Through such experiences I came to know Jesus Christ.  But something that happened this past Friday in the wee hours of the morning has led me to rethink my relationship with Jesus.     

The truth is that nothing actually happened at all.  Maybe the pilots were in complete control of the airplane all along.  But I know that if Z, K, and I were all ready to face death, there must have been many others bracing themselves for the same.  We had an 11:30 p.m. flight from Rio de Janeiro to Foz do Iguaçu, a place known for its waterfalls.  We were all bleary-eyed and exhausted from a week of school activities, including parent-teacher conferences and Latin American Culture Night, among others.  We were pleased to settle in to the flight so we could drift off during the two-hour ride.  An hour into the ride, however, we started to have violent turbulence.  When I opened the window shade to see what was going on outside, all I could see was the blinding flashes of lightning.  The flight attendant made an announcement in Portuguese, of which all I could understand was "turbulência.” Of course, the only English provided was, "Please fasten your seatbelts.”  What is going on? I wondered.  The plane was making sudden dips, shaking, and rattling.  I felt very aware of our tiny airplane amidst the power of the lightning storm outside. 

I realized that this could very well be the end of my life if something were to go wrong with this flight.  I pictured us getting struck by lightning mid-air and crashing to our death below.  I learned later that our friend K who was at the opposite end of the row near the other window was trying to catch our attention, hoping to say goodbye in case anything were to happen.  I did the only thing I could do in such a situation--pray.  It was so clear to me that we were completely in the hands of God; I could not do a single thing to control this situation.  If the Lord decided that this was the time, this was indeed the time.  "What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open" (Revelations 3:7). 

As I went before the Lord in submission, my heart was in a strange place.  Perhaps only those who believe they are about to face death can understand the profoundness of the spirit's yearnings.  At that moment, the Holy Spirit revealed a new view of the Lord to me that was absolutely humbling.  Here I had been preaching God's word in my Bible class, attempting to be a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ to those around me, yet it became clear as day how filthy and insignificant I am in comparison to the Lord's righteousness, might, and majesty.  In an instant, all my concerns and worries about my life became meaningless in comparison to facing the almighty Creator of the universe. 

But Lord, I am so unworthy to even be in your presence, I prayed.   If I truly believe that I will have eternal life, why are my knees trembling?  Why am I not experiencing utter joy at the thought of going home to be with my Lord?  He tells us in Revelations 3:21, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."  At that moment I wondered if I would be accepted into God's kingdom, or if any doubts I had about the Truth would hold me back from "overcoming."  Lord, I do not feel ready to meet you!  Suddenly, I saw very clearly that the way I had been going through my daily life was not glorifying God.  I wanted a chance to change that.

By God's mercy, he allowed us to land safely that morning.  I am thankful that He has given me more time on Earth to serve Him and become more like Him in the process.  The question still remains, though, of how I might better prepare to meet my Maker.  The truth is that there is nothing I can do to win the Lord's favor.  No matter how hard I try to live righteously, I will never be perfect in God's sight.  As a human being made from dust and dirt, I am not capable of living up to his calling of holiness.  This is exactly why our Creator came to Earth as Jesus Christ and took on our burdens, ultimately sacrificing His own human life so that our sins could be covered once and for all. 

I desperately need to accept Jesus' gift in all its fullness.  I want to think, breathe, and live in a way that testifies that my soul belongs to him, that every cell in my body is fixed on Him, free from anxiety and fears.  If I am truly confident in the Lord's promises, what do I have to fear on this earth?  My anxiety with work, my fear of inadequacy, my fear of being robbed on the streets, even my fear of death is all in vain.  Jesus says, "'I tell you friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him'" (Luke 12:4-5).

So, here I am, alive still on this earth, yet grateful to have a deeper understanding of God's majesty and how I want to live my life.  But I urge anyone who reads this to seek to know your Creator, the only God worth worshipping.  You already know there must be much more to life than the material comfort we seek here.  I struggle to believe that life is merely about working a job (no matter how meaningful your job may be), raising a family, setting up a home, being kind to others, and looking forward to retirement.  The Lord of all creation, whose existence is evident all around us, has prepared riches in His kingdom for those who proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ.  I urge you to seek to know more about who Jesus Christ is and decide whether or not you accept him.  There is no time now for you to shrug your shoulders in passivity or indifference.   Jesus says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).  Make your decision now to be hot or cold because the time will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, when your life on earth will be taken.  Will you overcome and join Jesus at his throne?



The overcomers at Iguacu Falls, one of the most spectacular places on Earth.