Proverbs 3:12- for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
One of my favorite television shows over the years has been Star Trek. I remember an episode when the starship Enterprise was traveling from one planet to another. Along the flight path they had to travel near a large star that had unusually strong gravity. They needed to make course corrections along the way to keep from flying directly into the star. Since they were traveling faster than the speed of light, timing was important. The closer they got to the star, the harder it would be to pull away. If they got too close, they would reach a point of “no return” where their engines would not have enough power to pull them away. They would eventually be crushed by the strong gravity and burn up by the star’s heat.
The captain gave orders to the navigator to make the necessary course corrections. But the navigator didn’t immediately obey the orders. He was distracted. It just so happened he was being influenced by an alien onboard who made him visualize that they were flying into an area of giant knives, daggers and swords that could destroy the ship. (I know, it’s silly, but back then as a kid, it was exciting! )The navigator was being deceived.
After some exciting events, the captain saved the day by defeating the alien and forcing him leave the ship. The navigator was freed from alien influence and the starship was saved.
Just like in space, the “gravitational forces” of sin are all around us as we “travel” through life. Initially they “nudge” us in directions contrary to God’s laws, commands, principles and wisdom…eventually pulling us away from intimate fellowship with Him. The longer we are away from His presence, the harder it is to get back on the course of righteousness. If we are not careful, we can get to a point of “no return” where we “crush” the full experience of His goodness towards us, and “burn up” in the consequences of our sins.
What “gravitational forces” are influencing your life? Are there habits from your past? The wrong circle of friends and associates? The Internet? Unforgiveness? Fear? Anger? Greed? Disappointment? Discouragement? Disbelief in, or lack of knowledge of God? Or just a lack of time with Him? The biggest danger on the starship Enterprise was the alien inside. Sometimes our own sin nature drives us to places we shouldn’t be, and makes us see things contrary to reality.
As a child of God, our Father takes the time and makes the effort to provide “course corrections” in our lives. Sometimes they are uncomfortable, inconvenient and even painful. But they are all done in love with the purpose of restoring a right relationship with Him…an intimacy that provides inner peace and fulfillment.
If you are experiencing various kinds of trials in your life, they could be “course corrections” that the sovereign Lord is allowing to occur. If you make daily choices to trust in His nature and praise Him through it (being steadfast), you will develop to become a perfect, complete child of God, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).
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