No way can that thing fly.

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This basket has been thousands of feet in the air. It has no wings. It has no fuel tank. There are no rocket boosters. Nevertheless, it soars so gracefully as the air currents buoy it along above the trees. It floats silently like you do in your flying dreams. Of course you can tell that it only does this when attached to the balloon. By itself this several hundred pound basket is only good for collecting giant Easter Eggs.

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:21-24 New International Version

We were created to soar in righteousness. But like gravity holds the basket to the ground, the law of God holds us fast. We all sin and fall short. Yet there is another Truth that is equal to the law of gravity. Apart from anything we do, God makes us righteous. He clips the balloon to our basket and we soar.

It’s a dream. It’s unbelievable.  Incredible, amazing … pick a word to describe it and you will fall short in your description.

The law of gravity acts on us in such a constant way. It feels natural and normal to behave according to its dictates. But step into a balloon and things change. It’s not that gravity goes away, but a better, stronger law takes hold. In the same way Christ’s redemption lifts us off the earth into a heavenly Kingdom. In this new Kingdom things are as different as night and day. There is healing, peace in a storm, broken dreams mend, relationships bond, wisdom abounds. But most significantly we are swept up into the presence of God. Yes! He is here! Alleluia!

Copyright photo and text David Brukiewa