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John Ortberg, in a little book called Waiting On God, tells of a lesson from The Flying Roudellas.

There are two primary people involved in a successful trapeze act — the “Flyer” and the “Catcher”. The Flyer is the one who lets go and the Catcher is the one who catches.

There comes a time for the Flyer to release, arc into the air, then wait as still as possible for the catcher to pluck him from the air.

The one thing the Flyer must remember is to “never try to catch the Catcher!” — wait as still as possible and trust the catcher to do his job. Waiting on God is a lot like that.

There is a certain vulnerability in letting go of old ways, things we know are not right for us, that which holds us back. There are long pauses, afterwards, where we feel as if we are just hanging there with nothing under us. But God is a good catcher if we let go in obedience, trust his word, and don’t panic in the process.

“They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” — Psalm 9:10

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.– Psalm 5:11

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” — Deuteronomy 33:27a

— fritz

A Secret Place

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1

The Bible says God has a secret place.

Is this just a euphemism for God’s general care or is there, really, a place (physical or spiritual) not even suspected by most?  Is it just a euphemism for heaven or can the living person enter?

Psalms 31:20 calls it a “Pavilion” or “tent” saying it is a place of God’s presence, a place of safety from pride and strife of tongues. Job calls it a place of wisdom and that it is “hid from the eyes of all living” (Job 28:21) so at this point it sounds a bit like heaven, but not so fast! The New Testament, using the term “mystery”, says it is now revealed!

Paul said he discovered it and we could, too!

“By revelation [God] made known unto me the mystery; as I wrote afore in few words,  whereby, when ye read ye may understand…)”– Ephesians 3:2-4

He wrote the secret mystery is that God always planned to join himself with mere human beings — and actually does so in Christ! This mystery, he said, is “Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27) and that we actually enter into Christ like we enter our clothing (Galatians 3:27).

More than a euphemism, the Bible says our bodies actually become a physical part of Christ and that what we do in our bodies, both good and bad, is being done with and to Christ’s body. (1st Corinthians 6:13-17) This is why we need to do right things with our bodies. That same passage says those joined to Christ are one spirit, the human spirit infused and one with God’s Holy Spirit.

God’s secret place, his pavilion? Safe in Christ!

“God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus … to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.” — Ephesians 2:5-7 (CEB)

Start reading the Scriptures from this perspective and a whole new world opens!

– fritz
Related Post: “Thin Places” — March 20, 2012

Shortly after giving my life to Christ I attended a university which was not kind to the Bible. Their religious classes taught the Bible was full of myth and error, its stories to be peeled back like an onion to get to the truth. Those holding onto a belief the Bible as God’s Word were ridiculed and viewed as severely flawed.

But I had a godly pastor, Reverend Creppon, who gave me some sage advice. “Fritz”, he told me one particularly difficult day, “hold onto the Bible, it will always get you out of any trouble it gets you into!”

I never forgot that or him and the Bible has always has done just what he said.

— fritz