The Marvelous Adventure of Flying

We live in a world of flying objects. Airplanes, rocket missiles, etc. Right here in St. Charles, MO where I live, we have the only company in the nation that is building the JDAM sattelite-controlled guidance system used on the U.S. "smart-bombs". During the war with Iraq, the importance of properly controlled "flying objects" became crucial.
Have you ever sat in a Boeing 747 before take-off and thought, "How will this monster ever get off the ground?' We wonder how four jet engines will ever enable thousands of pounds to fly across the continents or the oceans. Two physical laws are involved: the law of gravity and the law of aerodynamics. When we see a plane fly, we know that the law of aerodynamics has set the plane free from the law of gravity.
The Wright brothers knew they could fly long before they proved it by their successful flight at Kittyhawk. While others continued to say that the law of gravity made flight impossible, Orville and Wilbur had concluded that because of another law, the law of aerodynamics, flight was possible. The law of aerodynamics had not negated the law of gravity, but it had set them free from the law of gravity.
Even more amazing, they had come to understand that the very law that had been the seeming curse – the law of gravity – was actually an important factor in the operation of the over-riding law of aerodynamics. Thrust alone, without the gravity factor, would have made directional flight and landing impossible. The passenger and military jets of today all are continuing proof that we can be free of gravity even though the law is still very much operative.
Since the Wright brothers were not intimidated by the concept of the law of gravity, they could creatively USE the law of gravity as PART OF the greater law of aerodynamics.
Most of us have heard the often used, pathetic excuse, "I'm only human!" Not only is this statement inaccurate, it also reflects the common negative attitude that many Christians have about their humanity. We must come to see that our humanity is really very wonderful!!!
Whether we see our humanity as a draw-back or as wonderful is dependent on our focus. Do you have Paul's negative Romans 7 focus of yourself, or the positive Romans 8 focus that Paul came to see as reality?
Near the close of Romans 7, Paul says, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death?" Then chapter 8 opens with the wonderful statement of Paul as the light of the Holy Spirit comes on in his head, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." How can we account for Paul's move from frustration to freedom?
Most Christians continue to be plagued with negative feelings about their humanity, even though they may have a wonderful sense of peace with God regarding their destiny in the hereafter. So what can we say to ourselves and others to bring a current, NOW sense of wholeness, self-worth and creative freedom? What is it that will trigger good feelings about our personal humanity, even though temptations and negative inclinations continue?
For me, the answer lies in the next verse, in Romans 8:2: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death."
As in the above analogy of airplane flight, we have two laws. As long as we see the two laws (1 – life in union with Christ and 2 – human inclinations) as being in a continual struggle within us, as long as we assume that the existence of the two laws is proof that we are "stuck" with two competing natures, we will continue to live in the Romans 7 frustration. We will repeat endlessly: "On the one hand, I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin" (Rom. 7:25). When will we see that the temptations and negative desires and inclinations of our humanity are not properly labeled a "nature"? We "WERE by nature children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:3), but now we ARE by nature children of obedience. Yes, obedience is now our very nature, because we have the Spirit of Christ living in us, in union with us, irrespective of some negative human inclinations and tendencies. Do not confuse your true nature with a human tendency. This is why Jesus said, "Do not judge [yourself or others] according to appearances [or human tendencies] but judge righteous judgment [the way things really are at their inner center]" (John 7:24).
We must distinguish between our outer man (mind and body) and our inner man (spirit). We are more than a composite of personality, talents, moods, feelings and physical appearance. These are all outer expressions of the container – the physical brain and body. They are not our real essence, the real "me". We ARE who we contain in union with our human spirit.
These individual human traits are our contact with the world, whether for good or bad. The traits, the personalities themselves, are not "bad" in themselves. THEY are "only human"! THEY are only the human container. THEY are involved in the law of sin and death. But after our new birth, WE are MORE than human – we are a union of human and divine. We become under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus who has come to live within our human spirit – that is, to the extent that we are aware of that new law and allow and trust in that new law to operate our life.
Getting back to the airplane, if you take a 747 up to 30,000 feet and then cut off all power so that the laws of aerodynamics of thrust and airflow do not work, what happens? The law of gravity takes over completely and those many tons drop pretty much like a lead balloon. Crash and burn!
So also, when we as Christians don't make daily use of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and trust in its aerodynamics, we gravitate downward, misuse our God-wired human inclinations, and crash and burn – sin!
But when that 747 continually uses all of the physical laws of thrust and airflow trusting in aerodynamics to overcome and control gravity, then the useful qualities of gravity can and must be used to control take-off, direction and landing. That is, overall flight is achieved.
Likewise, when we as Christians become aware and recognize the ability of Christ within to control and overcome our negative traits and to use in daily living our positive traits, then we are "free" from the law of sin and death. The "gravity" of our human characteristics cannot make us crash and burn. In fact, the way God has wired us can in turn be used by God in whatever way He chooses to manifest Himself. He can use the "gravity" to steer us into safe take-offs, proper levels and headings, and smooth landings at our destinations.
The law of sin and death that reigns in the lives of those who have not yet come to a point of repentance is no longer a reigning law in our lives. Now when any negative humanity surfaces, we see it for what it really is - God's way of reminding us of who we really are, His precious assets in union with Christ. Since we have been "joined to another" (Rom. 7:4), we "have been released from the law" (7:6). The law that once condemned us is now just a wonderful reminder of who we are in Christ.
When we finally are no longer intimidated and condemned by our humanity, all the unique qualities of our own personal humanity can be used by God to draw us and those around us into His awareness.
So many people look on their human qualities as downward pulls away from the spiritual. But God created us with these unique human characteristics. They are neutral. They are neither good nor evil in themselves. They have a good or evil usage by who we allow to direct our actions. Are we children of disobedience (Satan's kids) or children of obedience (God's kids)?
And if we are God's kids, do we let Satan externally influence us into an independent attitude to use our human characteristics wrongly? Or do we stay aware of Christ's guidance from within to use our characteristics righteously?
Realize that humanity is NOT a liability, (just as the law of gravity is not a liability for the airplane), but is an asset to be used as we TRUST in Christ to live out through us to our own little world (just as the law of aerodynamics is used in conjunction with the law of gravity for proper flight).
Our own unique qualities, talents, and even gifts from God, can be used as no other person could ever use them. Our approach to the people of the world around us is special to God – can be used in a special way by God. Our humorous approach, our intellectual approach, our carefree approach, our comforting approach to others can be used as needed.
Don't look down on your humanity. God created all of that humanity and said that "it was good!" And after the Fall, the human qualities did not become "evil", but humans just allowed their human qualities to be MISUSED. And after years of misuse, we do not instantly at conversion institute proper use. Life is spiritual growth in awareness of HOW to be able to eliminate misuse.
The next time you see a plane in flight, either actually over your home or on TV over Iraq, stop and contemplate the interaction of the two forces, the two laws. That plane needs the curvature of the airflow over the wings and the power of the engines. BUT it also needs the "curse" of the law of gravity just as much.

IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER FOR
CONTROLLED FLIGHT.

CHRIST AND YOUR HUMANITY
CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR
CONTROLLED RELATIONSHIPS.

ISN'T THAT "UPLIFTING"??

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