I can’t imagine what skydivers think as they leap from a plane with a parachute tied to their back. They have to have complete faith in the parachute before they jump, trusting that it will stop them crashing into the ground.
As people hurtle toward death, in an ordinary sense, and then God’s judgement for sin, we need something or someone to stop us crashing and burning before God’s justice throne. Christ is like a parachute. He does what we cannot do ourselves. To escape the wrath of God, we must put complete faith in Christ’s death for our sins and in his resurrection from the dead.
Some people live as if Jesus isn’t enough. Just as a skydiver who believes his parachute is too small might flap his arms to save himself from crashing, so people who don’t think Jesus has done all that it is necessary to save us will try to do good works. But these good works are as effective as flapping our arms as we hurtle toward the ground. Good works won’t reduce the impact of the judgement and wrath of God. Jesus is enough. All we can do is rest on him.
“I can’t imagine what skydivers think as they leap from a plane with a parachute tied to their back.”
I am Paratrooper, Skydiver and Jumpmaster;
We think about what we are going to do in freefall; working with others or doing aerobatics.
Yes, we do believe in our parachutes, but we still carry a spare.
I’ve had a few malfunctions, but I can’t say I ever flapped my arms.
It is faith in myself and my mates that keeps me safe.
I hope that helps.
Hi Morris, thanks for your help and welcome to TG. The analogy of parachute and faith in Christ breaks down, as you pointed out, as you and your mates pack the chute, someone makes them and so the trust is not in the parachute but in the person who packed it and made it. What would you do if your parachute and spare failed? No amount of faith in yourself will stop you from hitting the ground very hard. That’s the point. I can’t save myself from the judgement and justice of God than I can from hitting the ground by flapping my arms. WHat do you believe will happen to you when you die? Neil