So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, obligated to the law. We are children of the free woman, acceptable to God because of our faith. Galatians 4:31
I'm doing a lot of airport time these days. It's always the usual thing—check in and drop off luggage, and then off to the line. You know, that intimidating line through security checkpoint that snakes hundreds of people back and forth for a half mile until finally it's your turn at the conveyor belt. At this point, you get to do a strip tease, taking off all your clothes, jewelry, guns, knives, explosives, as well as to empty whatever is left out of your bag. All this so you can walk through the special metal-detecting doorway on your way to the concourse.
I was going through such a line this last week (with Mom on our trip home from Mayo). Finally it was my turn to show my passport and boarding pass to the nice security agent in the line. It was then that I noticed the words "Silver Elite" printed on my boarding pass. It sunk in as if for the first time.
Don't get me wrong. I knew I was part of the "in club" when I received my Silver Elite card in the mail last winter. I don't deserve too much recognition though. One trip to India will qualify anyone.
So anyhow, I noticed the Silver Elite thing on my boarding ticket, and suddenly I was struck with the thought. "I wonder what this actually means in day-to-day airport life, if anything. What is the big deal about being a Silver Elitist? Woo hoo!
But then, as I looked around, I noticed this nice empty line just across the ropes where five happy, relaxed people moved through right away, and where a sign said, "First Class and Elite Members Only."
Pointing to that line, I asked the ticket agent, "Is that me?"
He nodded his head, trying to conceal his pity. "Mmm hmmm."
"And I missed it? You mean I walked all the way through this line when I could have been in that line?"
"Mmm hmmm. Would you like to go back out and come in again to try it out?"
"No thank you." Smart Aleck!
Hmph. So all this time, I didn't even know who I was. I could have been in the five line instead of the hundreds line. As it turns out, I'm also eligible for priority seating, priority boarding, priority reservations—hey, the fun never ends!
Well guess what? There's another area of my life where I live like I don't know who I am. Or should I say, Whose I am. A lot of the time, I fall for Satan's lies, believing that I am no better off than I was before He came into my life—that I am still hanging in the long line of people in bondage to sin, resigned to living in fear and shame. When I buy into those lies, I act like the world, talk like the world, think like the world, believe like the world.
But the truth is, I am a daughter of the King! I am of royal descent. And for sure, that bloodline should have me seeing my worth in a different light. Not to be confused with acting like I'm better than anyone (or even thinking it)—I am called to be a servant and not to think too highly of myself because of anything I've done! It's all because of Jesus!
Because of Jesus, I have The King's ear (and heart) anytime I need it. I have the power of God living inside me. I'm in the happier, more peaceful lane of life. I am forgiven, righteous in the Blood of Christ, and most of all—I am FREE!
Wow…membership really does have its privileges!