Success Motivation Through Prayer
| | Zero Visibility 1
We walk by Faith, Not by Sight
"Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." Acts 27:9-10 (New King James Version)
When there is heavy rain or a snowstorm or thick fog, the visibility effectively becomes zero. We simply cannot see anything. It means everything becomes dark and our vision is completely lacking. Zero visibility can be a dangerous situation.
Many years ago I was the office manager for National Car Rental in Anchorage, Alaska. I was scheduled to go from Anchorage to Valdez to open an office that had to be opened by a certain date. It had snowed for approximately 12 hours straight, yet because this office had to be opened off to the airport I went. From the time of lift off until we arrived in the Valdez area we had zero visibility. We were flying on a very small aircraft which had a limited computerized guidance system into a very small archaic airport in Valdez. The small airport also had limited technology for landing in a whiteout. The aircraft was so small that I could see the pilot looking out of the window trying to figure out where Valdez was.
By now the storm had hit Valdez and with the thick clouds moving in, the visibility went down to zero. We couldn't see the mountains, the ground, the airport or anything. The airplane flew without much direction. The pilot of the airplane began trembling and were in trouble. It was scary!
With zero visibility and a strong wind, the airplane tossed like a piece of paper. The pilot was obviously nervous. Under my breath I prayed, "Lord, help us! Lord, help us!" The plane soared and dipped greatly while the pilot tried to get our bearings and find the direction for the plane. After about two hours or so, he decided to attempt to head back to Anchorage. We were overjoyed. The airplane headed for Anchorage which was about 325 miles away and landed safely. After that experience I said I would have never board another small airplane (LOL). The experience can't be fully described in all its horror. After having flown blind in zero visibility, I could truly understand the danger and fear of not being able to see anything. This experience taught me the danger of being in a zero visibility situation.
When we look at the Bible, many biblical figures faced a zero visibility situation. The Bible teaches that we are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5: 7).
THE DEATH OF JESUS = ZERO VISIBILITY
In the Bible, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was like a zero visibility experience for the disciples. They lived with Christ for three and a half years as they watched His miracles, power, and authority. They expected Christ to bring the new kingdom and establish heaven on earth. However, all of a sudden Christ so helplessly surrendered to the Jewish leaders, was taken as a criminal, humiliated in front of the crowd, sentenced to death at the courtyard of Pontius Pilate, took the cross up to Mt. Calvary, and He died. It was as if their visibility for the future had become zero. They couldn't see any future. They had left their parents, homes, families, and jobs to follow Christ for three years, and now their future was dark; they were in despair. However, three days later the real secret was revealed. The great power of God was revealed and Christ was resurrected from the dead.
It is written in Colossians 2:15, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 says that Christ would indeed die for our sins and would be resurrected exactly according to the Bible. When a man reaches his limit and zero visibility, it may be as dark as dark can be. But when God appears, miracles follow. This is our God. This is why we believe in Him. We can operate in zero visibility situations when we have a God given vision and dream and walk by faith and not by sight. Paul and the men on a voyage had a zero visibility situation. Paul said before the trip, I perceive that this will be a tough voyage.
"Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." Acts 27:9-10 (New King James Version)
Even though they had a zero visibility situation, Paul believed God and all the men on the ship were saved, some on boards, others on broken pieces of the ship. Not one life was lost, except for the ship being destroyed, and the cargo lost, they all escaped safe to land. Are you in a zero visibility situation? Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, cry out to the Lord in prayer and walk by faith in His Word and His dream for your life.
|
| Join Our List |
 | |
