So, I did a 100% horrible thing - and was a terrible steward of my own word.
My family and I flew back from NYC this weekend - and we sat in the same exact seats both there and back.
ROW 11
SEATS A, B, and C ...
all EXIT seats.
Both ways - there and back - the flight attendant asked us if we'd take responsibility for opening the doors and leading people to safety in case of an emergency. Before she could proceed with the pre flight check ... we all had to verbally agree by saying "yes".
So, we agreed.
But, I'm not sure any of us paid attention to the demonstration of how to open the door. I certainly didn't read the “how to” card in the pocket of the seat in front of me.
Speaking for myself ... I didn't feel “called” to open the door. I didn’t feel like I’d have to keep people safe. In other words, I didn't really think the plane was going to crash.
So, no need for me to read the manual. AND, if the plane did crash - I'm sure someone else read their card and would show me how to open the door.
Yet, if I had taken my word seriously – I’d have asked the flight attendant some questions!
This seems a lot like Christianity to me.
Most of us don’t read, embrace, or even study the written word until we are “pushed” to do so by trial, circumstance, or pain. Many of us don’t seek, until we ? NEED answers!
I mean, if the plane were going down – I promise I’d have read that card!
And, worse yet – if the plane did actually crash – I’d have to rely on someone ELSE’S interpretation of what the card said. It would be purely a case of the blind leading the blind.
Here’s the thing.
The moment you say “YES” to Jesus. The moment you confess with your heart that you believe … you AGREE to being an agent of His reconciliation. We literally become His representative who LEADS others to …. safety!
God’s makes His APPEAL of SALVATION through us! We implore people to ***BE*** reconciled to God!
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We (all believers) are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal (of salvation) through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
How can we do this if we can’t stand on our own with the written word?
How can we do this if we rely SOLEY on the “opinions” of others who have read the bible?
How can we avoid false doctrine when we don’t even have a base foundation to work with?
YES, ask people for help.
YES, ask people for their wisdom and council.
YES, ask people for clarity and perspective.
BUT, we have a responsibility to lead people into His truth … and we can only do that if we seek truth by putting in the time and effort to do so.
Yes. The very same way we agree to lead people to safety through a door on the airplane … is the same way we have agreed to lead people to safety in the arms of Christ.
Anyone who says differently is selling something - and they need not sit in an exit row.