A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers   

Ecclesiastes 8:7, “For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?” A young man was learning to be a paratrooper. Before his first jump, he was given these instructions: “Jump when you are told. Count to ten and pull the rip cord. In the unlikely event your parachute doesn’t open, pull the emergency rip cord. When you get down, a truck will be there to take you back to the airport.” The young man memorized these instructions and climbed aboard the plane. The plane climbed to ten thousand feet and the paratroopers began to jump. When the young man was told to jump, he jumped. He then counted to ten and pulled the rip cord. Nothing happened. His chute failed to open. So he pulled the emergency rip cord. Still, nothing happened. No parachute. “Oh great,” said the young man. “And I suppose the truck won’t be there when I get down either!” Life is full of uncertainties. Who of us knows what tomorrow will bring—or the next moment for that matter. Our Scripture lesson today in the NIV reads, “Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?” Do you ever have days where, like the young paratrooper, you step of the plane only to find the rip cord doesn’t work? I think we all do. How then should we deal with life’s uncertainties? First of all by accepting the fact that each day will bring uncertainty. As the poet Robert Burns put it, “The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray.” Secondly, though, it is imperative that we maintain a close relationship with the One who is never surprised when our plans do go astray. In fact, according to Isaiah 46:10, He knows the “end from the beginning.” You see, friend, when you can’t fully trust the rip cords or even if the truck is going to be there when you hit the ground, you can always trust God. Today, before you “step off the plane,” put your jump into the hands of a sovereign God. In doing so, your trust in Him, will safely guide you into the landing zone, of a bright new day.