Roller Coaster Faith
10/02/08 07:57
It was
the year that Cedar Point featured its famous Magnum
2000 roller coaster. My son, Danny, and I waited in
the hour-long line and jumped into the first car. The
coaster made its way up the first hill and our
excitement rose along with it. I had instructed him
that any good coaster was worth riding without hands
and so with hands held high we began the descent. It
soon became evident that the coaster exceeded our
expectations and we grabbed for the bar in front of
us. I think what scared us first was that we
couldn’t see the track! We raced to the bottom
of the hill at break-neck speed. I can remember my
heart trying to leap out of my chest as if to say it
didn’t want to ride this coaster. I thought I
was going to have a heart attack! I remember praying,
“Dear God, don’t let me die right here
next to this boy.” It was all over in just
under two minutes and as we exited the platform we
were already deciding to ride it again! It was great
fun; but that is why we go to amusement parks
isn’t it? Our psyche needs that kind of
stimulation from time to time. Roller Coasters may
not be for everybody but there is something to be
said for feeling danger while being assured of our
safety. For the more reserved, it may come while at
the circus watching the trapeze artists swinging a
hundred feet in the air. It may be the other guy that
is in the danger but we feel the excitement just the
same.
I think the reason why we get so excited, whether it be in a roller coaster or on the bench at the circus, is that ultimately we know that we are not in control of what happens. We trust the engineers and technicians of the coaster and the capabilities of the trapeze artist. No one rides the coaster anticipating that this is the “last ride,” neither do people go to the circus to watch someone meet their demise. We have a need to feel safe in the midst of danger. This is what faith in God is all about. He wants us to know that we can trust Him with our lives while living life with all its dangers and pitfalls. The only problem with some folk is that they don’t let God have the control. They say they trust Him, but they want their tax rebate in their pocket, a clean bill of health, job security, retirement package and the knowledge of what is going to happen tomorrow. Could you imagine how dull life would be if God told you every morning just what was going to happen during the day, secured your finances and assured you of your health? Listen, God meant for us to live a life of faith and He even made that life of faith to be a blessing. I’m not saying that everything is going to go peachy keen and we’ll just tiptoe through this journey. We may even get scared along the way. I’ll tell you one thing though: I’d rather go through life knowing that I am safe in His hands and experience much more in that life, then I would if I just experienced those things that I knew I could control. After all, I do love the thrill of excitement from time to time
I think the reason why we get so excited, whether it be in a roller coaster or on the bench at the circus, is that ultimately we know that we are not in control of what happens. We trust the engineers and technicians of the coaster and the capabilities of the trapeze artist. No one rides the coaster anticipating that this is the “last ride,” neither do people go to the circus to watch someone meet their demise. We have a need to feel safe in the midst of danger. This is what faith in God is all about. He wants us to know that we can trust Him with our lives while living life with all its dangers and pitfalls. The only problem with some folk is that they don’t let God have the control. They say they trust Him, but they want their tax rebate in their pocket, a clean bill of health, job security, retirement package and the knowledge of what is going to happen tomorrow. Could you imagine how dull life would be if God told you every morning just what was going to happen during the day, secured your finances and assured you of your health? Listen, God meant for us to live a life of faith and He even made that life of faith to be a blessing. I’m not saying that everything is going to go peachy keen and we’ll just tiptoe through this journey. We may even get scared along the way. I’ll tell you one thing though: I’d rather go through life knowing that I am safe in His hands and experience much more in that life, then I would if I just experienced those things that I knew I could control. After all, I do love the thrill of excitement from time to time
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