Last evening on Discovery Channel we watched what was, quite possibly, one of the greatest parables the Lord has ever quickened to me. In awe we watched tightrope walker Nik Wallenda cross the entire Grand Canyon on a small, steel cable, barely wide enough upon which to set his feet. As he began this "amazing stunt" as many called it, I held my breath and felt that my heart would stop; and then I heard Nik begin to call upon the Name above every name. With almost every tentative step forward, He praised God and called upon Him for protection, for safety, for the calming of the wind, and for His very survival. "Thank You, Jesus. Oh, I praise You, Jesus. You are my Rock and my Salvation. You have the authority to stop the wind. I give You the glory, Jesus!"
Step by step, for 23 breathtaking minutes, fifteen hundred feet above the rocky canyon floor, he depended upon God. He trusted Jesus not to let go of Him. And over the live cameras that televised this event to the world, He was not ashamed to tell every man, woman and child watching that He depends on God, and not his own ability, to make it to the end.
The wind could have toppled him. His own strength could have failed him, as he was carrying an extremely heavy, weighted bar for balance. If he had lost focus, fear could have taken over and caused him to tumble to his death. But he never stopped praising the One who kept him safe! What a parable this was for us!
My little devotional this morning was what quickened it all to my spirit. It reads, "Fearful, anxious thoughts melt away in the Light of My Presence. When you turn away from Me, you are vulnerable to the darkness that is always at work in the world. In the world, dependency is seen as immaturity. But in My Kingdom, dependence on Me is a prime measure of maturity."
I'm sure many in the world thought Nik Wallenda to be a fool, crossing the Grand Canyon, calling on Jesus' Name. But we know God uses the foolish to confound the wise! He used this as a testimony, even a teaching, about clinging to the hand of the Savior.
Psalm 62:5-7: "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from Him. He alone is My rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. God Most High is my salvation and my honor; He is my Mighty Rock, my Refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our Refuge."
This life we live is like a tightrope walk. Some refer to tightrope walkers as "daredevils," and as I heard that term spoken over Nik Wallenda, I rebuked it. He did not dare the devil to kill him...he called upon the only One who could keep him safe to the end of the journey; he commanded the wind to stop in the authority of the only One who controls the wind and the waves; and when he reached the "end of the rope," he kissed the ground, and in tears, gave the glory to Yeshua, His Rock and His Salvation! For me, it was a parable, a lesson, wherein the Lord showed me how to cling to Him with every step, praise Him in every circumstance, trust Him at all times, pour out my heart to Him, and never be ashamed to give Him the glory for everything in my life, even in front of all those who are watching!
If you want to see a short clip of Nik's walk across the Grand Canyon, you can find it here. Turn your speakers up and listen closely, as the audio is very faint - but you will want to hear his words!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVAo5rlKgFc
