Living at 32,000'

When we left Eugene last summer, we flew to Seattle, where we had a three hour layover.  It was a dark, overcast day as we waited in the Seattle airport.  But once the plane took off and we got above the clouds, all of a sudden it was bright and sunny.  The contrast could not have been greater.  

We can live our lives at ground level or we can live them above the clouds.  It's our choice.  It is easier in many ways to live at ground level. It requires less effort, less struggle, but it's also gloomy down there. We are tied to the misery and unhappiness of this world.  Or we can aspire to live at 32,000'.  It takes effort, discipline, even self-denial to climb to the heights, but there is real joy up there.  And the view is a whole lot better.  Hymn 331 "Live above the gloom and darkness, walk in God's unclouded light.  Hate the world, its sin and folly: Keep your garments clean and white."

Colossians 3:1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."  

A life at 32,000' - "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

We are not going to get to 32,000' on our own.  We need the help of God, what Paul calls grace.

Ephesians 2:6 - "And raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."