by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
“Don’t look down! Keep looking up.” In my youth, I wanted to help my Dad do some work on our house. At age 10 or 11, it was my first time on a ladder, and I clearly remember his words as I climbed up to the second story to paint one of the window shutters. My potential falling and injuring myself was my Dad’s concern. Having my feet off solid ground was mine!
As I learned, heights were not to be trifled with. Serious injury could occur, but to help me overcome the unnatural climb of the ladder, my Dad got a second ladder out, and climbed along side of me. I watched how he climbed effortlessly, keeping his eye on the top of the ladder, rather than watching the ground.
Once I was up in position to scrape
and paint, I was fine; I wasn’t going up or down, I was just working at
one height. And going down, was similar: don’t look down, but look
forward or up; the rungs will be where you expect them to be.
Our walk with the Lord should always have
us looking up rather than down at the world around us. Our goal is
upward. We raise ourselves up to His level for fellowship and teachings.
Higher and higher in our walk with Christ, we are compelled ever
upward!
Years later in the Fire Department,
ladder training was a requirement. As all the trainees climbed a 100 ft.
aerial ladder (that’s 10 stories tall!), my Training Captain repeated
my father’s words of years before: “Don’t look down! Keep looking up!”
It is a Spiritual Truth, plain and
simple. Whenever there are troubles or fearful situations surrounding
us, we can always look up, to Jesus. And looking up, we won’t become
fearful.
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift
up your heads; for your redemption draweth near.” ~ Luke 21:28
up your heads; for your redemption draweth near.” ~ Luke 21:28
