Flying Into The Wind

I watched a large bird flying

Against the forces of the sky

Striving hard to keep its balance

Heavy winds were blowing by.

Yet it refused to surrender

Struggling onward just to win

For there is no time for quitting

When flying into the wind. (bbb)

F

rom the moment that we are born upon this earth, we begin facing many problems. The problems may be hunger, neglect, or some form of illness, but sooner or later we learn that life is a time for flying into the wind. No one is exempt from this!

For example, the apostle Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit, but each day found him struggling against the prevailing winds of many difficulties. He wrote about being in prison, receiving beatings and a stoning, being shipwrecked, the perils of robbers, facing sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, and without sufficient clothes (2 Cor. 11:23-27).

How did Paul face these powerful winds in life? Like the bird in the poem, he just kept on flying! He wrote: “ but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). He wanted to win the “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8).

Compared to all the people of the world, Christians should be the most successful of all at flying into the wind. Why is this? Because we have the One who created the winds, therefore, we have the One who can help us face the wind pressures of life.

Peter encouraged Christians of his day with these words: “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

The author of the book of Hebrews promised: “So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ “ (Hebrews 13:6).

However, we must also remember that those who fly into the wind without God and the saving gospel will fail (2 Thes. 1:8). For when the howling winds of life and sin blow, these will die because they do not have the gift of God which is “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

What is your situation in life? Are you trying to face the winds alone? Have you given up and are no longer pressing on to win?

We must remember that there is no way that we can win the crown of life without Jesus, for He is the water of life. He said, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Will you allow Jesus to help you fly into the wind? —BBBristow