The word
parachute comes from the French prefix paracete, originally from the
Greek, meaning to protect against.
Chute, the French word for fall placed with paracete forms a word meaning “that which protects against a fall.” A parachute rigger is a person who is trained to maintain, pack and
repair parachutes, applying their understanding of fabrics, webbing, sewing,
packing, and other aspects. The work
accomplished before the ripcord is pulled determines the failure or success of
the fall.
The same is with
our faith according to the work we invest.
There are certain elements of our faith that we claim to possess but
really cannot be proven until life goes wrong.
‘James says that in tough times
our faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors…No matter what
you say you believe, or what others think you believe, there’s no hiding or
pretending when the bottom falls out…An
untested faith is an unreliable faith.’ Choose Joy, Kay Warren.
None of us would
grab an untested parachute when contemplating a jump. We would want confidence that when the
ripcord was pulled the parachute would successfully perform. We want to know that when needed, the chute
will open displaying the beautiful colors of the silk, and that our landing
will be soft. In regard to our faith, we
must study the Word, be trained in the truths, pack our life full of confidence
in God. We need to be people who prepare
for the fall…faith-ready Christians when life nudges us out of the plane. We gain more confidence with each fall,
perfecting our faith through each experience.
We can stand at the door of the flight securely grasping our ripcord of
faith. Our confidence during the fall is
the knowledge and complete belief in God providing a secure and safe landing. I can just picture the spiritual skies
peppered with thousands of deployed parachutes displaying the gorgeous colors
of faith.
When life nudges, pull that ripcord!
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