Attitude and Altitude |
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Elder
Mark D. Rowell |
James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he will lift you up”
As we
walk life’s pathway, we encounter many things that will
bring us down or lift us up. This is oftentimes a daily
experience of the believer. We can all identify with our
times either being “down in the valley” or “up on the
mountain top,” and we all would agree that being on top of
the mountain is really good and our “preference” in life.
The Apostle James gives us the formula for heading to the
mountain top: humble ourselves. But if we look at the
entirety of the 4th chapter of his Epistle, James exhorts
the readers to be introspective and look at themselves with
regard to their day to day lives, and what it means to be
humble. James says this humility consists of much change in
us. In other words, when we change our attitude our altitude
changes!
Here’s an
example I like to use:
In the
field of aviation, attitude is the orientation of an
aircraft relative to the direction of travel, while altitude
is the height of an object relative to ground or sea level.
If you want to gain altitude you have to change your
attitude. In basic terms, if I want to go up, I’ve got to
point up! I like using this as an example because it’s so
simple and has many applications. Have you ever watched a
video of a plane landing in severe crosswinds? It is very
scary to watch a plane pointed in one direction but moving
in another! The pilot has to adjust the attitude of the
plane to account for external forces that buffet the
aircraft. The same applies for going up: he has to point the
plane up! So what does all this mean? We have to change our
attitude many times to counter the external Don’t get me
wrong here. I’m not saying that God is the author of sin or
confusion. He is not! But we are able to see His work of
mercy and grace during trials and tribulations.
How many
times in scripture are we made to realize that God is
sovereign in ALL things? How many times do the practical
lessons of life bring this realization? We ask why, and God
says because “I am that I am!”
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there
is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Isaiah 46:9-10
In His
makeup, within His attributes, by who and what He is, and
according to His own testimony, God is sovereign. There is
none other but God! There is no one or nothing like Him! He
moves according to His own will and acts according to His
own pleasure. Tell me, who else can do this? Even those
mortal dictators who rule outside of any other counsel still
tremble and fear from those without that would seek to
overthrow their rule. Even in their mortal sovereignty, they
are not sovereign. But God, He does not tremble and fear,
because there is NONE that could overrule His sovereign
will! He. Is. GOD! Do we not draw comfort in that fact?
Aren’t we granted peace because we know that He is God and
there is none else? That heathen king Nebuchadnezzar is a
good example of this. He boasted all that he got for
himself, and then he spent seven seasons as a beast of the
field before his understanding returned to him. Then God was
glorified in Nebuchadnezzar as the king testified:
“And all
the inhabitants of earth are reputed as nothing: and he
doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among
the inhabitants of earth: and none can stay his hand, or say
unto him, What doest thou?” Daniel 4:35
Even
when we DO ask “why?”, we are shown that the question fails
before we even utter the words because it’s impossible to
question God! We can’t stop Him from performing His will,
and we can’t ask Him why He does the things He does, or even
how He does them, because He is sovereign! We have not the
ability to question Him! Could you imagine, just for a
moment, outside and listen much less go in! I had a similar
experience at the Louisiana association in Ringgold, LA one
year when I arrived late on Thursday night and sat on the
steps of the church house and listened to Elder Bill Walden
preach an able discourse and thought that if this was all I
could have it would be more than I deserved! Oh but isn’t it
wonderful to think that in that frame of mind, with that
attitude, that the Lord reaches down, gives more grace,
lifts us up, and says “go up higher”! Oh, I want to go up
higher!!! I want to go up higher and have worship with the
saints of God! Lord help us to look up and gain altitude so
that we can dwell with thee, if only for a little while, and
see the wonders of the House of the Lord!
We read
in Isaiah, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high
and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to
revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15
Notice
how the Lord who is high and lofty dwells in the high place
with those who are broken and humble! When we are in the
valleys of life and realize that we can do nothing of our
own selves and know that it’s “…of the Lord’s mercies that
we are not consumed…” that we hear His sweet voice saying
“go up higher.” That’s why James said to resist the devil!
This is why he said to draw nigh to God! We want to be where
He is while walking through this vail of tears.
Finally
brothers and sisters, when we humble ourselves, we find that
the Lord lifts us up. We experience things in life that
buffet us and cause us to have to adjust our attitude in
order to keep moving forward and up. It’s not easy, and the
scripture never says it is. Oh, but when we are lifted up by
the Lord, what peace we experience in the midst of life’s
storms!
The
songwriter puts it all in perspective:
“Fear
not the Pilot stands firm at the wheel. Fear not! We soon
shall out-weather the gale! Oh, how we fly ‘neath the loud,
creaking sail! We’re homeward bound!”
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