First Class.
If you have ever flown, you have had opportunity to envy those passengers. While you stood in line awaiting your group to be called, they boarded first, chose their pre-flight drink and settled into their roomy seats. While you shuffled past with your mounds of carry-on’s, their items had either been complimentarily checked or stowed in the ample space above.
When the flight begins, you rifle through McDonald’s fries, while they enjoy a meal on a linen placemat. And when you have just about forgotten all about the discrepancy, you smell their fresh-baked cookies coming out of the oven.
Sigh. Just once wouldn’t you love one of them to switch places with you?
Good news. On your spiritual flight, that is exactly what Christ did.
As long as we stood in the ought-to line of the law, our group never got called. Waiting and working, we never did enough to finagle ourselves down the tarmac (Galatians 2:16). So, what religion couldn’t do, God did for us with a ticket of righteousness (Romans 8:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
And the seats!
Wow. It is even better than the Singapore Airlines suite that offers a full, flat bed complete with pajamas, linens and pillows. We’ve been seated alongside Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). At our fingertips is the Bread of Life (John 6:32), the Living Water (John 4:13-14), and the Sweet Fruit of His Word (Song 2:3).
We are no longer required to carry our own baggage for He carries our griefs and sorrows Himself (Isaiah 53:4).
So why don’t we take advantage of this Executive Class with Christ? We are like a hitchhiker who keeps his heavy backpack weighted on his back even after getting picked up. He is thankful for the ride, but can’t imagine burdening the ride with his baggage as well.
Yes, in coach, you have to stuff it and squeeze if, hide it and hold it. Irregardless, the burden is never perfectly situated (Hebrews 10:1).
But, in First Class, all the rules change (Hebrews 7:12). No longer are we required to deal with our guilt and earned judgment however we can (Exodus 28:30). Jesus has forgiven us of our baggage, we no longer have to worry about it at all (Hebrews 10:18). Once we are accepted into the top-tier class, we are counted in the Elite tier….forever. Even when we clumsily spill our drinks onto the luxury seating (Hebrews 10:10).
So how do you live like the Executive Platinum that you’ve been granted?
Just keep believing. For, “he who believes in Him is not judged (guilty)” (John 3:18).
Lean your seat back. The Pilot has got this.
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