The Right Altitude

[Minister Aaron Atkinson]

If you have ever been in the cockpit of an airplane or helicopter, you will see many instruments that may look strange to you if you are not familiar with them. However, a pilot depends on these instruments in order to navigate his plane. All of the instruments are important, but one in particular determine whether the plane is high or low in relation to flight, called an altitude indicator and it is something the pilot depends on. This instrument tells what altitude is safe and which altitude is dangerous. An altitude that is too low will cause the airplane to crash into a mountain or building. Think for a moment how our attitudes can be like an aircraft altitude indicator. If we have a positive attitude we can fly at a safe altitude or be in a place of peace and have confident trust in the Lord. Romans 8: 6 say that “the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” We also have the cyclic stick or controls that can raise us above our circumstances by having our minds set on spiritual things. Philippians tells us what to think on, those things that are “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, whatever is admirable” (4: 6 NIV). So when we think positive, when think on the word of God, we have life and peace, because God’s word is “spirit and life.”
Our altitudes (attitude) can rise to higher heights when we KNOW that all things work together for our good and that we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthen us. Now if we lower the controls by setting our minds on the things of the flesh or on negative thoughts, they can lower us to a descent where we crash if we stay on that course. The mind left to itself will naturally be drawn to lustful, sinful thoughts, because “All of us also lived among them (disobedient) at one time, gratifying the craving of our sinful nature and followings its desires and thoughts” (Eph. 2:3). That’s why the Bible tells us not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by renewing our mind (Rom. 12:2). The mind that is controlled by the flesh will think on adulteries, hatred, selfish ambitions, jealous, and evil thoughts, to name just a few. So to stay at a safe altitude, let us allow the pilot-in-command (Jesus) tell us how to fly safely during night (spiritual attacks), in storms (trials) and when there is a high volume of traffic (interpersonal problems) in our flight path. Some of us do not have a lot of flight hours in hazardous flight conditions but when we follow the instructions of the Pilot-in-Command; we will make it to our destination safely.