The Desk

A Ride to Remember

 

Happy Monday to our CFC Family!

 

When our kids were little, we took them to Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto for a day of fun. As we wandered through the park, we spotted the towering roller coaster called the "Behemoth." Despite our better judgment, we “threw caution to the wind” and joined the long line of people wait their turn to experience the thrill!

 

Now, I’m usually not afraid of heights; after all, I had gone skydiving a few years earlier and loved every minute of it. But as we settled into this so-called “thrill ride,” a wave of uneasiness swept over me, and I quickly realized why. Once the ride started, I quickly discovered that this was anything but a “thrill!” The safety straps that were supposed to hold us in felt alarmingly loose, and at the very first steep drop, I was convinced that I was about to see Jesus!

 

The ride jolted and twisted, leaving me almost frozen in fear.  After what felt like an eternity of wild turns and plunges, I was more than ready to get off—if I made it out alive, that is!  I remember feeling not just the feeling of fear, but genuinely being actually angry.  Mad at the designers that made this stupid ride, angry that Lenise convinced me to pay money for this crazy experience in the first place, and angry at the thought that my kids were about to be without a father!

 

If I were to draw a parallel to the troubling state of our world right now, I would say that it kind of reminds me of my experience on the “Behemoth” roller coaster. Like the ride, our world is filled with dizzying turns and unexpected drops, leaving many to grapple with uncertainty and fear for tomorrow, wondering when this ride will finally come to a stop. All around us, there seems to be an underlying fear for the future and with the American elections happening this week, many are left pondering where things are all heading.

And to this I would say that I understand that sense of uncertainty; those feelings are real and cannot be dismissed.

 

In times like these, we need to continually surrender our emotions and anxieties to Jesus. Because unlike the “Behemoth” that was made by fallible human hands, all the uncertainties that are  happening in our world right now are firmly in God’s hands. We are living in a time in which many religious scholars believe that God is revealing long-hidden evils and darkness. And when such evil is exposed, it is never a pretty sight.

 

And so without sounding overly simplistic, I encourage each of us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Keep praying and believing for His righteousness to return to our land, trusting that amid all the turmoil, many will come to faith in Him—this is ultimately God’s desire.

I believe we are on the brink of facing some profoundly challenging times in the months ahead. This journey will not be for the faint-hearted and for those who envisioned the Christian life as a mere “Ferris wheel ride,” you may be in for a surprise. The reality is, there may be moments when you might feel like saying, “Stop the world, I want to get off!”

 

When I finally stepped off the Behemoth, I honestly can’t say that I enjoyed it, but I can say, I definitely will never forget it!  Truth is, our family still talks about that ride to this day.

Similarly, one day, the church will look back on these dark chapters in history and ponder, “Did we really endure that?” With God’s help, we will be able to respond, “Yes, we did, and it was a ride to remember!

 

In 2 Peter 3:11-13 we read;

 

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind ofpeople ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward tothe day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

 

 

 

Question:  In what practical way can you be a light to those who

                  have deep concerns about the future?

 

 

Enjoy the rest of your week and we’ll see you Sunday!