Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Isaiah 59:1, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.”

Background

In the opening scene from the movie Cliffhanger, two veteran mountain climbers are waiting to be picked up by the rescue unit because one of the men has injured his knee. The girlfriend of the injured man is also climbing with them, but she is far from being an experienced climber. To get to the rescue helicopter, the three of them must cross a deep ravine to get from the cliff they are on to the one where the helicopter rests. Crossing the ravine requires each climber to glide across a cable wearing a harness, suspended hundreds of feet above the valley floor below, much like the zip lines that are so common today. After the injured man completes his trek safely across the cable, his girlfriend begins her journey. Unfortunately, a clip on her gear breaks while she is halfway there, and she is suddenly hanging onto the straps with one hand, screaming for someone to save her. The other climber quickly hooks onto the cable and gets to her just before her strap gives way, but she can reach him with only one hand. After a few moments of panic and pleading, the woman’s hand begins to slip, and she falls to her death. Scenes like this one are just one of the many reasons why I will never mountain climb. The reward of the rush does not come close to justifying the amount of risk involved for me.

Application

But on a much safer plain, I am realizing that I am suffering in a way similar to that woman’s fate. I am not suspended by a thread, hanging on for dear life. But I have shortened the hand with which my Lord reaches out to me, and I have dampened His ears that listen to me. I have hopes, ideas, and plans to accomplish, but I have been remiss in how I share, or not share, these with Christ. There has been little sense of bringing these things to Him for us to go forth together, but rather my communication has been stunted, and His responses not forthcoming. I haven’t reached out with one hand, let alone both, and so I feel very much like that cliffhanger. It’s time to go to Him with all I’ve got, and let His hand enfold me.

Charge

As we seek Him today, make a renewed effort to stay in constant fellowship and communication with Jesus, the One who can save and can hear.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words