Brace For Impact
Brace for impact is a common phrase found on aircraft or ships that are about to hit something else. We as Christians should know that in our lives it’s not a matter if the crash may come, but when. When we follow Christ we know that we will always have the Devil nipping at our heals. It’s only a matter of time before the Devil gets us in his sites, and the targets on our minds and our souls will be his focus. He probes through our thoughts and finds our weaknesses. He tries to trip us up in our walk with the Lord, and he tries to break our spirits. The crash will come and our survival will depend on how well we can brace for the impact when it comes.
The Storm Comes
No matter how careful we are to avoid conflict, or even if we avoid people, the storm will one day find you. You can follow all the rules, dot all the I’s and cross all your T’s but no matter how careful you are, the storm finds each and every one of us. When we look to scripture it’s very clear on this point. John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Struggles come in many forms. They come in money, in conflict with people, loosing your job, or in physical ailment, but no matter how it comes, the impacts can be catastrophic. For me, my war isn’t money anymore, it’s not conflict with others either, it’s being alone. My biggest battle is the battle for my heart. The wounds I deal with are consistently at the forefront of my mind. The loss of my wife to divorce, the loss of my friends and family, and the failure of my body mixing with the ability to get to a better place has been a complete uphill battle. In the military we are taught to be on alert, to always look for danger, and to prepare for battle all the time. Luke 21:36 “Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.” When we prepare ourselves we learn to feel the change in the wind, we learn to allow ourselves to be more perceptive, but we must learn to handle the day when the storm bares down on us at full force.
Temptations
The time will come when the Devil will nip at your heals, and do everything to tempt you, to get you to fall flat, to walk away from everything you hold most dear. We will spend our lives fighting the temptation that will knock on our door. The lies that we are told every day from the Devil are to distract us, to draw us away from the mission. The Devil will break down our walls, and he will try to take everything we hold in our hearts. He tries to take our loved ones, our friends, and our relationship with God. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” We must remain alert before the rash, during the crash, and after the crash. Remain clear minded, and vigilant. We must learn to find way to face the fire every day. We must learn to keep our faith, our strength when the wolf growls at the door. The wolf will come and when it does we must stand tall, stand firm, and be ready for anything.
The Trials
No matter the form of the trials everyone’s different and no matter what it is, it’ll have an affect. The way we handle any given situation has as many paths as the human brain has synapses. What we say, or what we do, all of which will change any passing moment. What do you do when the plane is crashing down? When you’re in the seat and you have no control? Do you place your head between your knees and pray to God for safety? Do you ask for forgiveness? Do you thank God for the life lived and ask for peace of your loved ones? Sometimes when the crash comes we aren’t in control. Sometimes when the world falls down around us we don’t’ have control over the car, but we do have control over ourselves. We’re never alone in the trials, and we always have our options. 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” Although we will find ourselves in the fight of our lives sometimes we must have faith that in that fight we aren’t alone. Rest assured that the Holy Spirit is always with you.
I was in Iraq on September 12th 2004. It was early in the morning when our mission started. A joint operation with the Marines and as simple as the mission should have been it wasn’t. Before the mission had a chance to get underway an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) was in the road causing the mission to change. What started as a massive door to door raid turned into an EOD mission. That was until the truck in front of me took two IED’s and small arms fire. Soon after their truck was hit, my truck was hit. We were led into a well coordinated attack, an ambush that would nearly destroy my own truck, and do heavy damage to both vehicles. I remember when the first bullet hit my door. My truck had taken several rounds to the hood prior to my door getting hit, but in my own mind the situation got real when that bullet bounced off my door. As both hands move to the wheel I felt a warm comfort flow over my whole body. I felt as if my hands were being guided and I felt completely at ease. As RPG’s (Rocket Propelled Grenades) flew overhead, or just barely missed the truck (12 counted) none made direct contact. Even though the damage to my truck was severe, we made it back safely with no injuries between the two trucks involved. I know beyond a doubt the Holy Spirit was with us that day. Ecclesiastes 11:8 “But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.”
We often find ourselves excited about upcoming events, but we never truly know what tomorrow brings. How often are we disappointed when the plan goes off the rails? Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” I don’t think this means we shouldn’t get excited, instead be understanding when something comes up to change the plans, and understand that the events unfolding are still within the will of God. The Devil will interfere with our lives by pulling people away, tempting others to fall pray to their own sinful desires. In that we must understand tomorrow is never guaranteed. We must always seize our day and make the best of what we have in the moment. Luke 21:19 “Stand firm, and you will win life.” This comes with a measure of endurance and we need to be ready for the joys to come our way, be ready for the temptations that come our way, and be ready when the impact comes our way.
Plan For it
Before the plane takes off the safety briefing is displayed. It’s the plan for what to do in the emergency. The Bible also offers our instructions for the emergencies. When you truly read the Bible there’s not much you would see today that didn’t happen back then. There may be all kinds of new flavors of Sin, but the sin at the rout is still the same. No matter what you’re experiencing you can find the how to located in the Holy Word of God. We need to first see the emergency and once we do that we can identify what it is. Proverbs 22:3 “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” It’s not always prudent to run into the fray. Sometimes it’s better to seek shelter to weather the storm. We must remember that most attacks on us no matter if it’s the wife leaving you, a death in the family, a loss of a job; it’s all an emotional attack. The mind is the biggest thing we face attacks on. When we look at the Apostil Paul, a man who was beaten, ship wrecked, thrown to the lions, verbally and physically attacked, no matter what he faced, he never lost his spirit, or his way. We must always be ready for our crash and expect that it’s not a matter of if, but when it’ll come. Don’t be a cynic and always expect the worst, on the contrary, always hope for the very best. Prepare however for the crash just in case.
The Arrow Preacher 