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The Secrets of Tightrope
Walkers
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Have you ever wondered how
tightrope walkers accomplish their seemingly impossible tasks? The
man in the photo is Ahdili, a 32-year-old man from China setting a new
world record in 2003 by walking 480 meters 100 feet above the ground,
outside in the wind and weather. How did he do it? What
secrets did he apply? Why is what he did the perfect analogy for
the Christian walk in the Salvation Process?
There are many verses in the Bible which speak to our forward progress
in the Salvation Process being likened to what a tightrope walker does.
Notice:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it. –Matthew
7:13-14
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn
not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. –Proverbs
4:26-27
Like the tightrope walker, our path is narrow.
We must ponder the path of our feet. Our ways must be established
and we cannot turn to the right or left. Proverbs here establishes
the first of two secrets of the tightrope walker: FOCUS. We
must "ponder" or meditate about the righteous path Christ has set before
us. We must keep a strong focus on that path and not allow
distractions, trials, upsets, surprises, fatigue or Satan from keeping
our mind and eye on that narrow path in front of us.
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear? –1 Peter 4:18
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
–1 Corinthians 10:12
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition. –2 Thessalonians 2:3
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
–2 Timothy 3:1
No one would venture to state that the tightrope
walker's task is not perilous. He prepares for it. He
considers the wind coming in from the right, left, behind or straight
on. He knows that many in history have fallen and understands that
should he fall, there will be no second opportunity. As
firstfuits, we know that several will fall from the Salvation Process
because they thought themselves somehow already saved just by being
called of God. They did not plan for the perilous times, the
testing, the overcoming and allowing Christ to have His way in them.
Some have been tossed by twigs of doctrine or chasing some agenda for
power, position or a following. Some have refused to overcome the
sins in their lives.
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.
–Ephesians 5:15
For we walk by faith, not by sight. –2 Corinthians 5:7
Here we expose the second secret of the tightrope
walker: BALANCE. See that long pole in the picture above?
By holding onto it, just so, his whole body is held upright and affixed
to that narrow rope. As long as he holds it properly, his success
is all but guaranteed. It is the same with those God has called to
the Salvation Process. They live their lives in physical,
emotional, mental and spiritual balance. They allow no elements in
any of these areas to lessen their grip on the balancing pole.
Meanwhile, Satan, our human nature, false ministers and false brethren
are constantly coming up with methods and ways to throw you off balance.
You cannot allow it! We must walk circumspectly, using the wisdom
imparted to us by God, through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them
that walk uprightly. –Proverbs 2:7
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
–Proverbs 3:23
Are there any reading this who do not
believe that these tightrope walkers pray before setting out on that
long, narrow rope? You can count on the fact they do. We are
no different. EVERYTHING is by Almighty God. We are never in
the Salvation Process alone. God is giving us the wisdom and
strength and Christ is leading the way. If we have close
relationship with them, the journey in front of us will be walked in
safety and they will aid us in not allowing our foot to stumble.
Live a life of balance with your heart and mind focused on the Kingdom
of God!!
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