Kati Metro, 74, was hiking near Phoenix, Arizona, when she fell, injuring her face, wrist, and hip. A rescue helicopter flew in, and workers strapped her to a stretcher. Unfortunately, the winds were fierce, and a line failed that was supposed to prevent the stretcher from spinning as they pulled it up to the helicopter. The incident, which was caught on camera, was terrifying. Kati, suspended horizontally on the stretcher, started spinning around faster and faster, like the runaway hands of a clock — over 170 times in two minutes. She survived the ordeal, although she was dizzy for several days. The video transfixed social media, and I wonder if it was because, as horrifying as the experience was, it’s a bit of an analogy about how a lot of people feel right now.
They trudge through life, have a fall, encounter difficulties, and suddenly their lives spin out of control. They feel they’re at the end of their ropes, dangling dangerously in high winds. Life can be truly dizzying if you lose your perspective.
Anchored in Christ
Two things make all the difference in keeping life in perspective. First, we have to be anchored in Christ. Kati started spinning out of control when the line became disconnected that anchored her rescue basket. Hebrews 6:18-20 says that we — who know Christ — can lay hold of the hope set before us. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus.”
When we come to Christ, we’re throwing the rope of faith into the heavenly place, and our anchor snags onto Christ, the immovable Rock.
Warren Wiersbe said, “The anchor was a popular symbol in the early church. At least sixty-six pictures of anchors have been found in the catacombs…. However, this spiritual anchor is different from material anchors on ships. For one thing, we are anchored upward — to heaven — not downward. We are anchored not to stand still, but to move ahead! Our anchor is “sure” — it cannot break — and “steadfast,” it cannot slip. No earthly anchor can give that kind of security!” This is the wonderful experience of being totally committed to Jesus Christ. We have to come to Him and say, “Lord, I want all of You to have all of me. You gave Your life for me, and I am anchoring my life in You.” That’s the starting place for maintaining a healthy perspective.
Focused on Scripture
The other element is staying focused on Scripture. Our world is forcing too much clutter into our brains. The world is screaming at us. We obsess over social media. The all-news stations open every story with “breaking news” banners. People are more polarized than ever; and, on top of all that, we have mindless entertainment flowing like polluted streams across our devices and into our minds.
How can we keep our perspective in the midst of it all? We begin by learning to focus on Scripture. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.”
SOURCE: Christian Post, David Jeremiah
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