As my family and I were
making our way through the hectic and long security lines at the airport early
one morning to catch our flight back home from our Christmas vacation, I
witnessed two incidents that made me stop in my tracks. It was in this moment that I immediately felt
a sense of sadness come over me. The
first incident I witnessed was a woman and her young child, who were in line trying
to get to her husband who was three persons ahead. Somehow they got separated
when the three lines through check-in merged into one. She was asking the
individuals who were in- between where she was and where she was trying to get to,
if they would kindly let her pass so she and her daughter could get to her husband
so that they would be together.
The
second incident I witnessed was a woman hurrying to get to the security check point
where people and carry-on items are scanned, because she did not want to miss
her flight. She politely asked
individuals if she could get by so that her plane would not take off without
her. I watched her as she had a look of
desperation and pleading on her face.
The last I saw her; she was making her way to get scanned. Both
incidents brought me sadness, not because the individuals were trying to get to
a certain spot or place, but the behavior of those blocking them from where
they needed to go.
We
all know that the airports can be hectic and stressful at times with everyone trying
to get to their respective destinations.
But we also know that special circumstances may arise that cause us to
have to do a little more to get there in hopes that everyone we encounter will
be understanding. Well, this wasn’t the
case for these two individuals.
In
the first incident, instead of understanding that here was a woman with a small
child who was trying to get to her husband so that their family would all be together,
and she could receive assistance with the child as they proceeded through
security, they did not. Individuals gave
her looks as if she were crazy for asking them to do this. Some moved aside but
with harsh comments, and others who were not even impacted, voiced not so pleasant
opinions.
The
second woman faced harsher comments, looks, and gestures because individuals
felt that she should have left early enough to get there on time and it was an
inconvenience for them to step aside and let her pass. But, one never knows what a person encounters
as he/she is making his/her way to the destination. Yet, the two women were determined
to get to their destination regardless of whom or what was blocking them.
It
made me ask two things:
1. What if Christ allowed the sins of man to
block Him from dying on the cross for us? (“For this is how God loved
the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT)
What if we were left to carry the weight of every sinful
thing Christ took upon Himself for us? Would we be able to carry that heavy
load that He’s allowing us to place upon Him so that we don’t have to? (Then
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew
1:28 NLT). Or would we be weighed down so much that we were unable to
function? Not having the freedom and
the ability to go straight to the Throne of God for ourselves with a sincere heart,
repenting, asking for forgiveness, and turning away from sin. (“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins
may be wiped away.” Acts 3:19 NLT). Or, if He allowed our attitudes, moods, praise, worship,
prayer time, fellowship, and behavior to block or determine if He blessed us,
or gave us grace and mercy?
But instead, He didn’t allow any of that to block Him
from giving His life so that we may have eternal life. (“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and
this life is in his Son.” 1John 5:11 NLT)
2. What is blocking us
from all that God has for us? (“For I know the plans I have for you,”
says the lord. “They are plans for good and
not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
What do you have in your life that’s blocking you from
surrendering completely to Christ? Blocking you from having that fellowship and
relationship with Him? Serving Him with
your whole heart and being obedient to the instructions He has given you? What is blocking you from walking in what God
has called you to do? Is it friends,
job, family, relationships, money, television, popularity, drugs, adultery,
lust, pornography, fornication, disobedience, bitterness, no forgiveness, clubs,
clicks, pride, fear, etc.?
Once you are honest with yourself
about the things that are blocking you, you then must devise a plan using the
Word of God to remove it from your path.
- · Repent – Acts 3:19
- · Accept Salvation – Romans 10:9
- · Deny Self – Matthew 16:24
- · Know Who You are In Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:17
- · Resist – James 4:7
- · Study the Word – 2 Timothy 2:15-16
- · Walk with Christ – Deuteronomy 5:33
Remember, whenever you get discouraged and there are
things blocking you from walking closer to and with Christ, ask yourself - what
if He allowed things to block Him from getting to you?
Now go forth and remove those things
that are blocking you.
Be Encouraged!
