elainemcooper
Lisa Lickel
First Class
Posted by elainemcooper on July 13, 2012
This devotional ran one year ago this month. If you’re on the road or in the air, Happy Traveling!
Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper
I recently flew to the West Coast and, to my utter relief, was upgraded to First Class. While the luxury of wider seats, free meals, hot tea at my beck and call, and room to set up my laptop is enticing, I would never pay the extra cost on my own. But knowing that my elbows would not be digging into my side while writing a blog or chapter, I was feeling the joy of the seat promotion.
As I was called up to be one of the very first to board the aircraft, however, a pang of guilt crept into my thoughts, not to mention, a tinge of embarrassment.
These people probably think I paid for this luxury. Me, the ultimate sale shopper!
No one would realize that I had earned this upgrade because of all the miles I have accrued going to the west coast to help with triplet grandbabies. The airline has me in some sort of “Medallion” status, which I suppose is to make me feel like an Olympian of sorts. I am an Olympic traveler, that’s for sure, with more frequent flyer miles than many business travelers. But I didn’t pay for this luxury of First Class. A little red-faced, I hurried through the open walkway, one of the first to board.
But walking toward that ramp leading to the jetliner, it suddenly occurred to me: My passage into First Class was not unlike the free gift of salvation. I didn’t pay for it. Jesus did by dying on that cross. I didn’t have to pay for the upgrade to heaven—a far better location than a First Class cabin I might add! HE paid the ultimate price that will one day open the ramp for my soul to fly into heaven, surrounded by His love and grace. It will be the final—and most treasured—flight of all.
5 Responses to “First Class”
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patches24 said
Elaine, I totally like your analogy of the upgrade and salvation. And I see your point of view in being undeserving. But perhaps, just perhaps in the case of the upgrade you deserved it for all that flying with the airline. Along this vein I also though that no matter how many miles we travel we will never be able to earn this salvation, i.e. no amount of works.
By the way, I quite like my upgrades. I get them because my daughter used to work with the airline and so more often than not I get bumped up. And I revel in it. I’m a first class girl. If only I could afford it.
One day, with Jesus that’s what I’ll be indeed.
Elaine Marie Cooper said
Thanks so much! And you’re so right that no matter how many good works we accomplish, we cannot earn the ticket to heaven. It can only be bought through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Thanks for coming by!
joannesher said
Great analogy – and I REMEMBER this post from last year
Lisa Lickel said
me too – a good one!
Elaine Marie Cooper said
Thanks, Ladies! Glad it was memorable.
I actually posted it from the airport—that seemed appropriate. LOL