Holding on for dear life!

Would it take much to create distance between you and Jesus Christ, or are you clinging to Him for dear life?

It’s a question that came to mind when I stumbled across the following story (no source was noted). You’ve heard the saying of “holding on for dear life,” but for pilot Henry Dempsey, that saying gained an entirely new meaning …

Back in 1987 on a commuter flight from Portland, Maine, to Boston, the pilot, Henry Dempsey, heard an unusual noise near the rear of the plane. Dempsey turned the controls over to the co-pilot and went back to check it out. As he reached the tail section the plane hit an air pocket, tossing Dempsey against the rear door. He soon discovered the original noise was caused because the rear door had been improperly latched prior to takeoff. Now the impact of his weight caused it to open. Dempsey was instantly sucked out of the tiny jet.

The co-pilot saw the red light which indicated an open door. He immediately radioed the nearest airport requesting permission for an emergency landing. He reported that the pilot had fallen out of the plane and wanted a helicopter to search the area.

After the plane landed the ground crew found Dempsey holding on to the outdoor ladder of the aircraft. Somehow he had caught the ladder and held on for ten minutes as the plane flew two hundred mph at an altitude of 4,000 feet, and then when landing he kept his head from hitting the runway, which was only twelve inches away. According to the news reports, it took airport personnel several minutes to pry Dempsey’s fingers off of the ladder.

Dempsey was holding on so tightly for his life it took great effort by others to pry his fingers from the ladder that saved him from an ugly death.

By suffering a horrid crucifixion, Jesus Christ has saved us from the ugly consequences of sin and death, and through Him we have life everlasting. Shouldn’t we be clutching onto Him in such a way that no one could pry our fingers loose of Him no matter how hard or how long they tried? Take a look at just a few passages of scripture that speak to clinging to God …

“You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him …” Deuteronomy 10:20a.

“Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him,” Deuteronomy 11:22.

“Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him,” Deuteronomy 13:4.

“Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now,” Joshua 23:8.

“I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely,” Psalm 63:8.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless,” Philippians 2:14-16.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise,” Hebrews 10:23.

Who are what are you holding onto? What kind of grip do you have on Jesus today?

Scotty