A Pastor’s Perspective

“TrustWalk” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen (mjhill@ida.net)

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     “Whew.  Thirty feet sure looks high from up here!”  I sat upon the zip-line platform 30 feet high, ready to zoom down through the air.  I had to remind myself to simply look up at the wire and on ahead.  If I gazed down too long I just may forget about the whole thing.  Sitting there on that platform last summer made me realize that I must put a lot of trust on that wire in order to make the leap out into the air.  My trust is tested and true when I actually shove off the platform.

     I remember a story that illustrates trust in a powerful way: “A famous tightrope walker once strung a cable across Niagara Falls from the American side all the way to the Canadian side. To the applause of thousands of people, he would walk across that tightrope right on the very edge of the falls, the rushing, cascading waters thundering underneath him. He would walk back and forth, people applauding wildly. Then to further wow the crowds, he would put a blindfold on and go back and forth. Then he would ride a bicycle back and forth, and then he would push a wheelbarrow back and forth. Every day, people came out to watch him. He quite simply was the greatest.

As the story goes, one day while pushing the wheelbarrow back and forth, he called out to the crowd on one end, inquiring whether or not they thought he could successfully push the wheelbarrow across with a human being riding in the wheelbarrow. The crowd went berserk: “Surely you can. You’re remarkable. We’ve watched you for days. We understand and appreciate your skills. We believe in your abilities. You are the greatest.” On and on they went, to which he responded, “Then someone volunteer. You come right up here, single file, form a line, and get in the wheelbarrow to prove your trust in my ability.” A deafening silence overtook the crowd. There were no takers.”

When Peter asked if he could join Jesus out on the water, Peter was empowered to accomplish the impossible as long as his eyes were on the Lord.  Peter walked on water!  When Peter removed his gaze away from Jesus and looked down he became afraid and sunk (Matthew 14:30).  Jesus invites you out on the “tightrope” to walk by faith with Him.  Will you step out?  But don’t look down…don’t limit yourself to trying to figure out how it will all work out.  Just remember to keep your eyes on Him. We need to be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6)