CONQUERING THE TOWER OF TERROR

Dear Friend,

Have you gone on the ride at Disney called The Tower of Terror? I reflect on the time when I was standing in the line, asking myself “why I am I doing this?

I can tell you that I look at the evidence: others went on and got off and didn’t die, faint or get sick! Based on that, I decided I can do this and I have to experience this. Of course, then I have the bragging rights to say “I survived The Tower of Terror.” I actually laughed myself through it.

When the movie The Passion of the Christ was out, while waiting in line, I knew people who chose not to go see it. Looking at the people leaving the theater, I was left anticipating and asking myself “why I am I doing this?” I looked at the evidence: others were leaving the theater in total silence and even crying. In this case I decided I must witness this myself.

As I watched the movie, I was filled with agony as Jesus’ torture went on and on. Only God could survive such torture. Anne Graham Lotz was quoted as saying “many want to say the Romans killed Jesus, the Jews, or the government. But our magnificent Jesus gave up his last breath and refused to breath anymore. He chose to die for us!

Do you know about James, the half brother of Jesus? He did not want part of the adventure of Jesus at first. He refused the evidence and stories. He was his own person. Then James got in line for the ride of his life after he experienced the journey of Jesus’ death. He wanted the challenge. He wrote the powerful book of James in the Bible that teaches us how to live the Christian life.

The Tower of Terror taught me to conquer my fears. The Passion of the Christ brought me the profound truth to embrace Christ and understand what He did for me. James learned the same things and from it, ended up writing with the approach of being very direct with us. If James was living today, I believe his words to us would be: “Slow down, sit down, quiet down, learn, love and live like Jesus Christ.”

Do you avoid facing the challenges James wrote to us about living the Christian life? Why not get in line and confront this challenge and you will experience the exhilarating accomplished feeling I did which was new life with Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me experience more of you in my life as I face everyday challenges.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8 NIV)

Challenge accepted,
Elaine