What goes up…

What goes up must come down. It’s all about gravity. And gravity is one of those laws of nature that’s simply undeniable. Trying to defy gravity usually results in a painful lesson. No matter how hard we work to elevate ourselves, gravity will always try to bring us back down.

I was thinking about this during a recent flight as I took this picture from my window seat. There is something humbling about being elevated to a height where you get a glimpse of the splendor and beauty of both the earth and the sky. It became obvious to me that I could never experience this view without help from something or someone. The laws of nature prevent me from reaching this height on my own. Those same laws of nature would also soon bring me back down to earth. Literally and figuratively.

And that made me think about something Jesus said: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

Jesus was speaking about a wedding feast where he warns about taking a place of honor at the table. He said it would be humiliating to be escorted to the last place at the table, especially in front of all the guests. Better to humble yourself and take the last place on your own. The host may then honor you by moving you to a higher place.
As I thought about this, I thought about our son, Elijah. He was always doing things to make us laugh, and one of our cherished memories was from his sister Tina’s wedding. A table of honor had been prepared for the bride and groom at the reception. While Tina was seated in her throne-like chair waiting for her husband Chris to join her, Elijah sat down in the empty chair. He acted as though the place of honor had been meant for him.

Elijah was momentarily defying gravity. That’s how he lived his life. We all laughed because we knew how out of character it really was for Elijah. He was such a sweet young man that no one could imagine taking him seriously. And I even imagine the laughter in heaven as he does the same thing at the great feast. Who else could pull that off?

I love passing along the things that Elijah wrote because they are such great reminders of things that are important. He wrote, “my assumptions of life which came about from my inflated ego all started ultimately from refusing to submit myself to God.” He understood the importance of humbling ourselves and elevating God. “God is the one who created you, and the glory needs to go to Him” (Elijah 2014).

The laws of pride and humility are even more certain than the laws of nature. If we attempt to elevate ourselves, we will be forced to learn humility. If we humble ourselves, God himself will elevate us.

What goes up must come down. That’s true physically and spiritually. But in addition to the physical laws of nature, God gives us a marvelous spiritual law: What goes down must come up!

Please ‘like’ and ‘share’ this post as you find it helpful and inspiring. Thank you.

-Ken Buchanan