We Shall Be As He Is!

 

Photo by John Trainor 2013

Have you ever seen people fold dollar bills or bills of higher denomination so that the President’s portrait or the landmark building on the reverse side metamorphoses into a mushroom or some other image? It’s just a cheap parlor trick, but it does remind us of the truth that what we see may be a distortion of what truly is.

I recently had a dream like that. In the dream, I was viewing photographs of myself from college years and beyond. A software program displayed the images on my computer screen, at first chronologically and one by one, then in kaleidoscopic collages with the individual images rapidly changing in size, position, and juxtaposition.

The flirtatious glance of the young woman seated on the bronze tiger statue at Princeton gave way to the weary, sleep-deprived, and overworked frown of the medical intern. Then the intense, longing look of new love, and the radiant, joyful smile just before the preacher said “You may now kiss the bride.” The elated grin just after delivery, snuggling our precious infant son in my arms.

Images of my face then started to blend with those of my loved ones – my husband, our son, my parents, the Pastor who baptized us once we were saved, my maid of honor whom I led to the Lord -- and it seemed that each of these faces had left their mark on my own. Still more images -- of worry over daily struggles; celebration at holidays and birthdays; grief at funerals; anticipation as our son, now a handsome young man, strode masterfully across the stage to receive his college diploma with highest honors.

With the passing years, my face began to take on the inevitable changes due to the curse of sin, sorrow, and aging traced all the way back to the rebellion of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). “Laugh lines” that aren’t so funny, and “lines of expression,” even though I know my eyes and mouth would be much more expressive without them.

And then I saw the most amazing image of all! With deft artistry, the software rapidly sorted through all the images, selecting part of a smiling lip from one photo, a twinkle in the eye from another, a few pixels here and a few pixels there, until I saw a completely different representation of “my” countenance.

It was the beautiful face of an innocent young child, yet timeless and ageless thanks to an overlay of wisdom, completion, and maturity. It radiated love, peace and joy. It was a compilation of all my best features, feelings, and experiences, blended by the Master into a unique representation of who I would one day become in Him.

I awoke from the dream longing for the glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:40-49) He has promised each of His children – those who have been saved by faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). That body will never age, feel pain or sorrow, get sick or die.

When He returns for us at the Rapture, we will be instantly changed to be like Him, and we will meet Him and one another in the air, never again to leave His radiant presence (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Only then will we experience true and eternal joy (1 Peter 1:8), love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and peace (Philippians 4:7).

Each of us will be recognizable to one another, perhaps not through our appearance, but in some way through an amalgamation of our most positive and distinctive qualities and experiences, as in my dream. The resurrected Christ did not lose the nail prints in His hands and feet, nor His spear wound (John 20:27), for these were a permanent emblem of the sacrifice He so lovingly and completely made for us.

When Peter saw Moses and Elijah glorified with Christ at His transfiguration, he instantly knew who they were (Matthew 17:1-4), even though they had died more than hundreds of years before, and he would have no way of recognizing them except in the supernatural.

I believe that when we see our loved ones in Christ in Heaven, we will immediately recognize them even though they will no longer bear the scars of sickness and aging. Regardless of how young or old we are when we go home to Him, we will be youthful, vibrant, and radiant like the risen Christ.

I believe we will still show the distinctive features of our life story, experiences, and earthly relationships, yet transformed by our new purity of heart and absence of sin. We will be changed so much that God will give each of us a new name (Revelation 2:17). The end result may be a face that glows with innocence and His holiness, but that is ageless and timeless because it belongs to a soul transformed by God’s wisdom (Romans 12:2).

This dream also reminded me that God works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), texturing our countenance, our lives, and our eternal being by allowing trials as well as blessings to shape us, bringing us closer to and more like Him in faith. Like a Master Sculptor seeing Michelangelo’s David in a block of marble, God sees in each of us the potential for a unique, perfect, glorious being truly reflecting His image. He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), and though sin has disfigured us here on earth, one day we shall be as He is! (1 John 3:2)

Slowly and deliberately He chisels our features with the suffering He allows in our life to conform us to His image (Philippians 3:10). Gently He softens the rough edges with the Godly friends, teachers, and pastors He directs to our path (Proverbs 27:17). Faithfully He lights the fire of the Holy Spirit shining through our eyes and glowing in our faces so that we can be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15), just as He is the One True Light (John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

Until we receive our new, timeless countenance, may we let His light illuminate our faces and see others as He sees us, each with the potential to be like Him in glory!

© 2015 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Our Old Christmas Tree

 

Photo by Richard Collett 2019

Nearly a decade ago, when we moved into our present home, we decided to decorate for Christmas with a new artificial tree, wider and taller than our previous tree, as our new living room was larger. Setting up the tree was a lengthy project for my dear husband, as he spent hours on his knees removing the individual branches from their cells in a honeycomb-style container. Then he inserted each branch in its own groove on the trunk (which itself first had to be screwed together from its component pieces).

Finally we would look at it from all angles to get it as straight as possible, which meant my husband would lie prone on the floor, the lowest branches scraping his back, while he tweaked the trunk base this way and that in response to my direction.  Then came the lighting, with a key section inevitably burned out once the whole connected string was in place, requiring weeding out the defective chain and reconnecting a new one.

This process took its toll on my husband’s back and knees, not to mention on the tree limbs, which lost needles every time the tree was assembled and disassembled. Over the years, we thought about replacing it with a fresh cut tree, but we felt that a live tree looked and functioned much better in its native environment than in our living room.

Yet each year, the once beautiful and full spruce had more bare spots, with many branch tips brown from the absence of needles. My husband finally cleared out enough space in the lanai closet to store the fully assembled tree strung with lights, so that we could just do the “Christmas tree drag” through the sliders from the lanai to the living room, which was much quicker and easier. But needles still continued to fall because of contact with the tarp covering it while being stored, and because of the many ornaments we hung each year.

We thought about getting another artificial tree, but we found it difficult to justify the expense of a new tree of similar size, fullness and quality. More importantly, so many memories in our new home were inextricably linked to this “new” tree!

Such as the first Christmas we celebrated with the lovely young woman who would soon become our son’s wife! The first Christmas dinner, a succulent Beef Wellington, prepared under the leadership of our son. 

The first Christmas we enjoyed the antics of a canine guest – our son’s and daughter-in-law’s Australian shepherd, as he “herded” the stuffed toy squirrels we gave him, dashing around and around the tree, stopping and starting on a dime, changing direction abruptly, while miraculously knocking no ornaments off the tree!

And, a few years later, a second Aussie, learning the ropes of how to behave around the tree by following the example of his older yet smaller "brother."

Every Christmas we record a short video in front of this tree, recounting the special events of that year, the most memorable gifts, and especially the many blessings for which we thank God and give Him all the glory.

So each year, including this one, we drag the old Christmas tree, always showing its age a bit more, into our living room. It looks sparse and awkward at first, like Charlie Brown’s tree but broader. But soon the bare branches disappear as we fill them with special ornaments, each telling a special story that reflects a precious part of our history.

Some collectible ornaments were given to me by my mother when I was still in college. Others commemorate my rescue dog (rescued from dog lab in medical school!), our first Christmas together, our engagement, our honeymoon in Hawaii, our first Christmas in our new home, our son’s first Christmas, his first apartment. Mementos of our many travels, for dance shows and vacations, from England, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, France, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and so many more.

Our dance ministry history can be read from this tree. Special performances we gave and competitions at the Grand Ol’ Opry, Blackpool Dance Festival, World Swing Dance Championships. And a unique ornament depicting each of the dances we choreographed, to music and themes including O Holy Night, Phantom of the Opera, Christmas Toys Come Alive, Transformed, Bring Him Home, Sun and Moon, and many others!

Our old Christmas tree also reminds me of our senior saints. They may have walked this earth for many years, seen much better times, and lost some hair and teeth along the journey, but their memories, wisdom and experiences are truly irreplaceable. As lights of the world, they shine brightly with the inner radiance of knowing Christ (Matthew 5:14).

Once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), He enables His perfect will and plan to be accomplished in our lives (Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 1:6). Only He can transform what is broken, flawed and worn out into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15) of unique beauty and purpose, for we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).

Our Christmas tree may be old, but when lit and decorated with the colors of the season, it still serves the purpose of praising Him and reminding ourselves and others of the miracle of Christ’s birth – Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23), God with us in the flesh! He came as a lowly Infant (Luke 2:5-7), the sinless Lamb of God (John 1:29), to suffer and die on our behalf (Romans 3:25), that all who trust Him will live forever! (John 3:16)

Only Christ can take our bare frame and adorn it with precious ornaments of Godly virtue, meek and quiet Spirit (1 Peter 3:3-5), fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), the light of His love, and testimonies of His faithfulness and provision through challenges, storms and trials (1 Samuel 7:12). 

May we cherish each of these gifts and call them to remembrance daily, praising Him for the new life He breathes into our old frame. And may we look forward to that day, which I pray and believe will be very soon, when He replaces our tired, aging bodies with glorious resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-58), and we shall be as He is!

© 2021 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Stargazing

 

The more you look, the more you see. This thought entered my mind as my husband and I sat on the balcony of our beach house getaway, gazing upward at the vast, starry sky.

As we first went outside, the sky appeared overcast, with few discernible points of light. But the longer we sat there, the more dark-adapted our eyes became. Gradually more stars appeared, and even recognizable constellations. After several minutes of our evening prayer, a meteor even streaked across the horizon, leaving a shining trail before it vanished!

If we are to fully appreciate the night sky, we must spend time in hopeful anticipation that our patience will be rewarded. It is much the same for prayer. We can rush through it, like the hastily recited grace in a restaurant, squeezed in before the server returns to take the order. Or we can wait quietly in our prayer closet, not so that we can remember and ask for every last wish cluttering our mind that day, but so that we can hear God speak (Psalm 46:10; 1 Kings 19:12).

Before we reclined in the patio chairs, our view was restricted to what was immediately before and below us. The horizon and waves were mesmerizing and soothing, yet had we not changed our perspective to the heavens above, we would have missed the main event!

I wonder how many times God wants to direct our attention upward, to remind us that our home is in Heaven once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and that we are already seated in heavenly places in Him (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6). Yet if we stubbornly look downward or even straight ahead, how can we set our minds and hearts on things above and store up heavenly treasure (Matthew 6:19-20) that lasts forever?

The stargazing on that particular night was spectacular, with little light pollution from the quiet beachside development, and a new moon reflecting no light to Earth. Jesus Christ Himself is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), just as the sun is the physical source of light on our planet. Sunlight reflected from the moon, which has no intrinsic light source, illuminates the night sky. Similarly, we as believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15), reflecting His light to others.

But in certain phases of the moon, sunlight reflected from the moon is not visible from our location on Earth, and the brilliance of the stars is our only nocturnal illumination. I believe there are seasons when Christ’s glory reflects brightly from His children, to His glory, and other seasons when His light is not reflected from us, lest we be consumed by pride and wrongly assume that we shine brightly without His power. As John the Baptist said, “[Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

The heavens are filled with countless stars, most of which are brighter than earth’s sun, yet they are impossible to see during the day because light from the sun is so much closer. They are even difficult to see at night, particularly when there is a full moon or many street or porch lights.

Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19), in the third heaven, even further away from the second heaven where the stars reside (2 Corinthians 12:2). Yet He sent His Holy Spirit to live within the heart of every believer (2 Corinthians 1:22), so He is very near to us (Acts 17:27; James 4:8). But if we allow His light within us to be eclipsed by the false lights of the world or by our own self-glorification, we will miss His lamp to our feet and light for our path (Psalm 119:105).

Thinking I could enhance our stargazing experience, I had surprised my husband on his birthday with the gift of a telescope! My intentions were good, but after more than an hour of fiddling with knobs, lenses, screws, and viewing angles, the image we could see through the viewfinder was blurred and actually inferior to what we could see with our naked eyes!

It may have been operator error, or faulty equipment, but in any case it made me think that God often wants to communicate with us directly through His Word, and not through an overly analytical approach that may actually distance us from His message or obfuscate His truth.

Bible study and meditation on His Word are good, desirable, and commanded by God (Psalm 119; John 5:39; Acts 17:11). Often Scripturally sound commentaries, sermons, and teaching can be illuminating, yet the best commentary on the Word of God is the Word of God itself. Reading books about the Bible are no substitute for reading the Bible itself.

If we attempt to view the stars through a telescope lens, we may succeed in getting a closer glimpse of a particular star, but we may lose sight of the forest for the trees and fail to appreciate the overwhelming glory of God through the vastness of His creation. The glory of the stars is different from that of the sun and the moon, and each star differs from the others in its glory (1 Corinthians 15:41)

I am reminded of a speaker I once heard at a funeral, who gave a most erudite, detailed presentation about Joseph of Arimathaea (Mark 15:43), his history, his family history, and his provision of the tomb for Jesus. Yet he failed to preach the Gospel, to mention that the tomb is empty (John 20), and that through Jesus’ resurrection, all who trust Him have eternal life!

The starry sky is not only beautiful and awe-inspiring, but it also calls to mind God’s many promises recorded and fulfilled in His Word. He promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation with descendants as innumerable as the grains of sand in the desert, or as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; etc.). He kept and is still fulfilling this promise through the birth of Isaac even when his mother Sarah had been barren and was then decades past her childbearing years (Genesis 17:17).

God not only created all the stars by His Word (Genesis 1:16; Psalm 8:3; 136:9) and arranged them into constellations (Job 9:9) but knows each of them by name (Psalm 147:4), just as He knows each of us intimately and knows our needs before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8). Bible prophecy foretells that during the Great Tribulation, which no believer will experience, a third of the stars will fall from the sky (Revelation 8:12; 12:4; Matthew 24:29), and the stars will no longer give their light (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:10; 3:15).

It has been said that looking at the star-filled sky is like hiding under the front porch as children, peering through the cracks between the floorboards, and seeing pinpoints of light among the cobwebs, dirt and rusty nails. We caught a glimpse of something better, yet we could not appreciate that on the other side of those floorboards was a stately mansion. Now we contemplate the stars but as of yet cannot imagine the glory Heaven holds (Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9), including the special mansions Christ is preparing for us (John 14:1-3).

Jesus Christ Himself is the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) Who will come again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), I pray soon, just when all is at its darkest. May the eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1:18) be enlightened! Till He returns may we keep looking up (Luke 21:28), for our ultimate redemption into glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15: 42-57) draws near!

© 2020 Laurie Collett

 

Signs in the Sky: Solar Eclipse

Photo by A013231 2010

 On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible across Central and North America, beginning over the South Pacific Ocean. Mexico’s Pacific coast will experience totality around 11:07 a.m. PDT. The path of the eclipse will continue from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario and exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT. The next total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States will not occur until 2044, and it will be seen only from parts of Montana and North Dakota.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, partially or totally blocking our view of the sun. Because the intense light of the sun can burn our retina, scientists urge us to never look at the sun directly, but only with special protective glasses, whether during an eclipse or at any time.

This solar "sign in the sky" reminds me not only of the End Times, in which we now seem firmly entrenched, but also of our relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. He, Who is Light, can be compared to the sun, while believers are like the moon, able to reflect His light but not to generate any of our own. His radiance is so intense that we cannot look at Him directly and live.

A solar eclipse may serve as a warning not to insert our own sense of self-worth or pride between our world and our Lord. If we do, we can no longer see His light, and we get in the way of others around us by blocking them from His light. May believers therefore maintain a proper perspective of Him as the pure, holy, righteous Light of the world reflecting from us to others, allowing us to be lights for Him in this dark, wicked world.

This thought, and the barrage of news headlines suggesting that the labor pains of the End Times are growing stronger each day, led me to repost the following:

The Signs of the Times -- increasing earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, deadly disease, famine, wickedness, false prophets (Matthew 24) -- truly seem to indicate that we are in the End Times!  Prophecy also tells us to watch for signs in the sky (Jeremiah 10:2; Daniel 6:27; Joel 2:10; Luke 21:11; Acts 2:19)

On November 19, 2021, was the longest partial lunar eclipse in 530 years, visible from North and South America, Australia, and parts of Europe and Asia. It was accompanied by a blood red moon, as prophesied first by the prophet Joel (2:31) and then repeated in Acts 2:20: 

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come. 

A comet that could be hailed as “Comet of the Century” flew around the sun on Thanksgiving Day in 2013, was given up for dead, but then emerged and was predicted to be best seen in all its glory on Christmas Day!

Signs in the sky will herald the second coming of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Mark 13:24-26; Luke 21:25-27). He will appear in the heavens like lightning (Matthew 24:27,30) in His triumphant return to defeat the enemies of Israel at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), and ultimately conquering Satan, sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). All those who have placed their trust in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6) will accompany Him in the armies of saints (Revelation 19:14).

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to look up when we see the signs of the times (Luke 21:28), for our Redemption is near! At any moment, but at least seven years before the glorious second coming described above, the trump could sound, heard only by believers. We shall be changed in an instant (1 Corinthians 15:52), caught up to meet Christ in the air, to spend eternity with Him in our glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:49,54) that will never age or feel pain or sorrow.

To date, the most radiant and long-awaited sign in the sky was the Star of Bethlehem, illuminating the birth of Jesus, the Word Himself made flesh (John 1:14), and guiding the wise men who sought the promised Messiah (Matthew 2:2-9).

When will His second coming be? No man knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), but only God the Father Himself. Yet we are told to be vigilant and aware of the signs of the times (Matthew 24), which encourage us and strengthen our resolve to keep our hearts in Him (Matthew 6:21; John 15:5) and our lamps burning with the flame of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 26:1-13).

The comet that made a hairpin loop around the sun on Thanksgiving Day 2013 passed so close that some astronomers wondered if it would survive the encounter. Reports on Thanksgiving night proclaimed that the comet was destroyed, as it was no longer visible.

But on Black Friday morning, the headlines read: Hold the obituary! The comet has emerged from behind the sun and has begun to brighten. According to the initial predictions, it would reach its peak brilliance in December, even though its brightness to the observer already increased 25 times between November 13- 21! It may be ranked as one of the brightest comets of the past 50 years, and at its peak, it might even be visible in broad daylight!

For best night-time viewing, astronomers advise seeking rural areas, free from the light pollution of cities. The comet is most radiant against a backdrop of total darkness, seen without distraction from manmade lights. However, they strongly warned that only experienced observers should attempt to view the comet as it whipped around the sun. Although there is no danger in observing the comet itself, staring directly at the sun can result in blindness as infrared rays painlessly burn the retina of the eye.

As the comet approached the sun, the scorching heat and gravitational force of the sun presumably gave rise to a long, brilliant train, although this was not visible from the Solar Dynamics Observatory where NASA was focusing. Initial predictions were for the comet to climb noticeably higher in the north-northwest sky from December 21-31, and by Christmas Day, to no longer rise or set, but to remain above the horizon all night long.

By now you’ve no doubt guessed why I was so amazed by this comet, for it reminds me of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Its flight so close to the sun is like the proximity of Jesus Christ, Son of God yet God Himself, to God the Father. Even in His earthly ministry, Jesus and the Father were one (John 10:30), and now He sits at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69; Romans 8:34).

Even though Jesus told His apostles that He would rise from the dead (Matthew 20:19; Luke 24:7), they lost all hope after His burial and crucifixion (John 20:19). But just as He said He would, Christ rose again on the third day, that all who place their faith in Him would live with Him forever! (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

How appropriate that the comet’s approach to the sun occurred on Thanksgiving Day! What better reasons do we have to be thankful than for the Word becoming flesh to pay for all our sins (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2;4:10), to give eternal life to those who trust Him (John 3:16), and now to intercede for us with the Father? (Hebrews 4 :14-16)

Yet not all are thankful, for many are lured away by the world and have not yet seen Him as their Lord and Savior. Even those who are saved can see Him more clearly away from the distracting glare of worldly light pollution (Romans 12:2). He is the Light of the world (John 1:9; 8 :12 ;9 :5 ;11:9) Who shines brightest against the darkness of our sin (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:6).

The astronomers warned us not to look directly at the comet as it approached the scorching light of the sun, but to safely enjoy the view of the comet at night, When Jesus walked among us, bringing light to a world darkened by sin, looking at His face was no doubt the best blessing imaginable (2 Corinthians 4:6). Yet man cannot look directly at God the Father because of His supreme glory and holiness (1 Kings 19:13; Exodus 3 :6; 19 :21).

The astronomers initially predicted that this comet’s appearance to earth would culminate with an amazing display on Christmas Day, when it would neither set nor rise, but remain above the horizon all night long. Thanks to Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23), as celebrated on Christmas Day, those who trust Him are no longer in darkness (Isaiah 9:2). We have seen the bright light of the Morning Star!  (Revelation 22:16) He alone will light the New Jerusalem in continual radiance and there will be no night, nor any need for the sun (Revelation 22:5). 

How fitting that this Christmas Day comet was named Comet ISON! The name is an acronym for the International Scientific Optical Network, which discovered the comet in 2012. But to my mind, this is a contraction of I AM THAT I AM, the self-existent Name of God (Exodus 3:14), and GOD THE SON, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:13; 1 John 4:15, etc.), the Word from the beginning (John 1:1) and eternally our Lord (Hebrews 13:8).

Not that we need any sign (Matthew 12:39) to have faith in Him, for the facts of His death and resurrection are sufficient! (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Even though Comet ISON disappeared from view, we have faith – the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1) – that Christ reigns forever. Look up, and remember the Word made flesh, Our Redeemer, and His promise to return!    

May we all remember to look up, for our redemption draws nigh! 

© 2013 Laurie Collett

Edited now and in 2021 and reposted from the archives

 

Birds On a Wire

 

Photo by Karunakar Rayker 2007

Not long ago, on our usual journey from home to our favorite beach, I spotted an eerie phenomenon – a group of birds apparently hovering in mid-air, motionless and all facing in the same direction. When we got closer, the mystery was solved – the birds were all perched on an electrical wire, which was not visible from further up the road.

Despite the high voltage passing through such wires, small birds can safely land there, provided their body does not touch ground, because their feet are so close together. The voltage drop, and hence current, between two points on a wire is proportional to the distance between the points, so electricity from the wire does not harm the birds.

On subsequent trips I noticed that the same, or at least a similar, flock occupied the same wire, which prompted me to read more about this behavior. The more I learned about it, the more parallels I saw between “birds of a feather flocking together” on a high wire and the need for Christians to be faithful members of a local church:

Hebrews 10: 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), we are to join a local church (Acts 2:47), where we can support one another, bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and encourage one another to do God’s work. This is even more important during the End Times, as Christ’s return draws near, because the urgency to bring souls to Christ before it is too late (John 9:4) demands that we work together (Luke 10:2).

Birds on a wire perch close to each other to reduce the danger of being attacked by predators, as there is safety in numbers. For Christians also, the Bible-based church provides protection from Satan’s traps (Ephesians 6:11-18), including false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1), and a loving church family supports its members who are enduring trials through prayer and encouragement.

Birds that eat insects enjoy the height of an electrical wire to give them a better perspective, and hence feeding opportunities, as they can better view and then pursue their dinner, whether on the ground or flying by. Although Christians can and should read their own Bible daily to be fed from God’s Word (Matthew 6:11), the higher perspective of an experienced, Godly pastor or teacher expounding Scripture can feed us in the meat, and not only the milk, of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12).

The environment of a high wire is free of foliage to obstruct or shadow the birds’ view of predators and prey, thus enhancing their survival. Similarly, going to a Bible-based church at the appointed times should provide an environment free of the distractions and preoccupations of our daily life in this evil world, enabling us to focus on God’s Word and will from a higher perspective.

Birds nesting in trees are difficult to see, but those on an elevated wire are visible even from a distance. Jesus told His followers that we are the light of the world, shining like a great city on a hill for all to see (Matthew 5:14). The local church is one place where we can shine His reflected light, and it allows us to “recharge our batteries” so that we can burn more brightly even in this dark world.

Mark LaBarr, a wildlife biologist and conservation program manager with the National Audubon Society, describes birds clustering on a wire as a "pre-migratory get-together." The wire becomes a staging area, similar to an airport preboarding area, before the flock takes flight for warmer climates to help them survive the winter.

Or, for Christians, the local church is where we come together while awaiting the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), our final flight to meet Jesus Christ in the clouds and then on to Heaven, the most hospitable and welcoming destination where we will not only survive, but thrive, throughout all eternity!

Most birds on a wire face the same direction, into the wind, to avoid ruffling their feathers and to facilitate take-off and landing. (But of course, there are a few rebels in every crowd!) If we as Christians look in the same direction – to Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith – He will smooth over any disputes among ourselves and make it easier to embark on the course He has appointed us (Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 9:24), and to rest according to His perfect timing and direction (Matthew 11:28).

On our most recent trip, many miles past the birds on a wire, I witnessed an amazing display of God’s direction over His avian creation. A swarm of small birds suddenly appeared over the eastern sky, swooping westward over the horizon, then a second swarm in the western sky flew toward the first swarm until both united in a circular pattern as all the birds traveled upward!

It reminded me of God’s grace in inviting “whosoever” trusts in His Son as Lord and Savior to live forever in Heaven (John 3:16), regardless of whether they are His chosen people of Israel or Gentiles who have been “grafted in” to His family tree by faith (Romans 11).

Like winged flocks, may we gather together in safety, sound doctrine and support, and nurture our fellow believers until Christ comes again! Look up (Luke 21:28), for our redemption is near!  

© 2024 Laurie Collett

Photo by John Holmes 2006

Perspective

 

Recently, after carrying heavy bags up the stairs leading to our beach house, I felt somewhat light-headed, probably because of the sudden exertion after a long car ride. But as I gazed out over the ocean and toward the blue horizon, I felt my equilibrium restored.

About two years ago, I had to rehearse for our dance ministry when I had nearly, but incompletely, recovered from a 24-hour bout of episodic vertigo. Spinning and being lifted overhead, sometimes while upside down, were more challenging than usual! But I found that if I looked up and into the distance, the vertigo disappeared and my balance quickly returned.

The key to overcoming these troubling situations seemed to be a matter of perspective. Keeping my focus narrowed on myself and my immediate surroundings aggravated my discomfort, whereas shifting to a broader, heavenward view gave me a reassuring sense of stability.

Leonardo da Vinci, the great Renaissance painter, was a master of one point perspective. This technique uses parallel lines converging at a single vanishing point to create the illusion of depth while drawing the viewer’s eye to focus on the main subject. In his renowned “Last Supper,” the vanishing point is behind the head of Jesus Christ, and the lines in the painting all converge on His right eye, directing the viewer's attention to Him.

Perspective has spiritual as well as physical and visual implications. When chaos swirls all around us, we can choose a heavenly rather than a worldly perspective and keep our eyes, hearts and minds focused on Jesus Christ. Remembering that we are saved by trusting in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6) and are promised eternal life with Him (John 3:16), all our worldly cares grow dim.

Just as Leonardo used artistic techniques to highlight Jesus Christ as his most important subject, we can use our spiritual gifts to give Him the pre-eminence in our lives. We must keep ourselves from idols, or any goal, relationship, or pursuit that we value more dearly than Him (1 John 5:21). We must bring every thought into captivity and subjection to Him, while casting out any prideful idea opposed to God’s supremacy (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Scripture urges us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), to be anxious about nothing (Philippians 4:6), and to meditate on God’s Word day and night (Deuteronomy 6:7; Psalm 119). Although our thoughts may flutter about like a swarm of bees, each bee can light on only one blossom at a time, and our mind can only process one thought at a time. So if we direct our thoughts to God, wicked, intrusive, or anxious thoughts take flight.

Like Elisha, we should pray for our own eyes and those of our loved ones to be opened to God’s perspective, seeing not only our physical enemies but also the angels and great cloud of witnesses far outnumbering and overpowering any physical dangers or foes (2 Kings 6:15-17).

If we first seek Jesus Christ and His righteousness, He will not only allow us to find these, but will add on the blessing of meeting all our physical and spiritual needs (Matthew 6:33). Beginning our prayers with praise and thanksgiving reminds us of His infinite power, wisdom, righteousness and love, and His great mercy and grace (Matthew 6:9-13). It reminds us to shift our focus from our weakness to His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9), from our confusion to His solution, from our fear to the faith only He can provide (2 Corinthians 4:8-18).

Turning next in prayer to intercession for the great needs of our loved ones, church family, acquaintances, and even our enemies (Matthew 5:44) changes our perspective by making our own problems seem small in comparison. Then we can ask for whatever personal concerns remain on our hearts, but by then our attitude is likely to have shifted from grumbling or anxiety to gratitude.

In today’s perplexing and distressing End Times, the world, our flesh and the devil want us to focus on the problems, misery, and evil all around us, to paralyze us with fear and distract us from doing God’s work, following His Word, and worshipping Him. But the Holy Spirit within each believer encourages us to look up, for our redemption is near! (Luke 21:28). May we shift our perspective to heavenly things above (Colossians 3:1-2).

In this life we will be troubled and we will face many trials and much suffering (1 Peter 4:12). But in the vast scope of eternity, these all last but a fleeting moment (2 Corinthians 4:17) and will all vanish at the last trump, when we are raised in our glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:52-53) and get our first glimpse of our Savior’s precious face!

Then our perspective will change completely, for we will know Him as He now knows us (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will enjoy Him, Heaven and one another throughout eternity, never again to experience death, aging, sin, sorrow or pain!

Look up, for our redemption draws nigh!

© 2023 Laurie Collett