Icarus Flying too Close to the Sun.

The previous entry ending with soaring. Not just being above all the commotion below but being closer to Jesus.

The story of Icarus warns us about the desire to soar. Warns us about being unprepared to soar closer to the sun. Or, in Christian terms, closer to the Son.

There is a old ‘Christian’ proverb that says ‘too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.’ This may be applied in some very specific cases, but most of the time it is a way for people to quiet those who have a dynamic relationship with Jesus that is life changing.

People are not usually jealous of this type of relationship they are convicted by it.

I am saying all this to say that these things may keep us from pursuing a relationship with Jesus which allows us to soar. When we soar and draw close to God then He draws close to us. This relationship does not change God but it literally changes us.

We can read about the change in the story of Moses in Exodus 34:29-35. When Moses’ physical countenance was changed by his closeness to God, and the Glory of God, the children of Israel were afraid to approach him. This attitude of sinful humanity is common in Scripture and began with Adam and Eve hiding from God in the Garden.

The conviction brought about by a holy life is clearly evident in the attacks upon Jesus while he was physically here in His incarnation. These situations and stories should not dissuade us from drawing closer to God. Are there complications we will experience beside those previous mentioned? Yes, one is described my Michael Card in his song Live this Mystery he writes, “like a moth around the flame, drawn to the light and to the pain.” We are drawn to the light but we often do not realize the pain that comes with that drawing. Being close to God reveals the issues that we need to deal with and dealing with them is painful. This pain is not physical, but mental and emotional pain.

What we miss is that our sinful issues, that God desires to heal, are like a festering wound that has partially healed but is still infected. Getting the dirt or infecting substance out will really be painful but if we want true healing, the infection needs to be removed. Our souls are infected and like a skilled physician God wants to heal us but we cringe because we have learned to deal with the current pain, and the scalpel will bring a greater momentary pain for a desired healing after. If we can see the need for healing then we may submit to the pain, however, it is always our choice.