You’re Too Heavy to Walk on Water

I’m not going to tell you my weight. That doesn’t matter, unless you want to tell me about why I need to lose some. (And I’ve tried, but somehow, it always finds me back.)

I just googled the weight of a Boeing 737, and I learnt that an empty one weighs eighty four thousand pounds (84,000)! At takeoff, the maximum weight is one hundred and thirty three thousand pounds (133,000 lbs).

That means that a full plane can carry more than two hundred people (230 to be precise). Now I’m using an average human weight of 190 pounds, according to Wikipedia.

I’m not going to try to make that sound like a lot of weight. I'll let the facts do it. If you’ve ever let any child sit on your lap, you know that a “light” adolescent is way too heavy. (This reminds me why I can never understand the motivation behind someone dressing up like Santa, and letting children sit on their lap. Though this is the least reason why I wouldn’t want to dress up like Santa Claus anyway)

When you think about this, it seems virtually impossible that a couple hundred people could jump into a big metallic mould (which is about the weight of a further hundred people or so), and fly thousands of miles.

You may be asking why I’m rambling on about planes and heavy children. I’m not.

I’m making a case for this question. If we can have enough faith in that tin can to jump into it and fly thousands of miles, why can’t we have enough faith that we can do what the Lord asks of us? Remember, you only need a mustard seed’s worth.

What? Science supports the reason why the plane can fly? True.

When the plane propels itself forward fast enough, it creates a field around the wing that causes enough upward force (called upthrust) below the wings to push that heavy thing up in the air – similar to a bird flapping its wings.

But you know what science hasn’t figured out? Who told birds that? No seriously!

If you’ve ever seen a vulture (also known as corbeaux – pronounced cobo) you wonder if the thing is as intelligent as the Wright brothers. I mean, which was the first bird to experiment with wings? And flying? Did birds engineer their feathers?

Nope. God did.

Yes people, that sounds ridiculous, asking about birds doing engineering. Birds don’t have multi million dollar research grants to experiment with aero dynamic designs of wings. They don’t experiment with dropping bombs either, but they somehow seem to have complex targeting systems.

Once more I ask. Do you know how they learnt it? God taught them.

Matthew 6:26 KJV  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Aren’t you better than the birds? Aren’t we?

Sometimes I wonder, because they learnt how to fly naturally. But I know they’re not better than us, because they still can’t transport 200 people to get to Jamaica to climb Dunns River Falls.

But God told us He’d take care of us. Jesus proved it to Peter when He made the disciple walk on water.

He proves it to us daily, but most times we’re too stubborn to acknowledge it. So we end up comparing vultures flying to jumbo jets, and wondering if a large bird can take us to Jamaica for vacation for free. (or something like that)

When we see difficult situations in front of us, we often ask ourselves if we can really do it. We often convince ourselves that we can’t.

The thing is, God admits that we can’t do it. Not alone. Here’s what He has to say on the matter:

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

If you want a much simpler explanation (and one you can tell your friends without seeming like a complete idiot) then take this simple advice.

Stop worrying. Bring the gospel to life. Just have faith. Then walk on water.

Maybe you can even walk to Jamaica on vacation.

Matthew 6:31-33 (KJV)  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (32)  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  (33)  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Written by :

Maurice Burke

 

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