One of the first times I saw a news report about an airport being closed due to inclement weather was on a New Year's Day when travelers were stranded in airports for an entire weekend. One fellow the news reporter interviewed said he was hoping for a standby flight home so he could get to work on Monday. These days airport closures and unhappy stranded passengers almost seem to be the norm! Maybe you've even been the victim of such a situation.
Friends of mine were once on a standby flight but not because of bad weather. They deliberately gave up their seat to someone who was in need of an emergency flight. The airlines announced that if anyone would be willing to give up their seats, they would be given a free flight to anywhere in the United States they wanted to go. They quickly determined that a standby flight was worth the offer!
Did you know that in the spiritual realm we, as Christians, have a Standby? No -- I'm not talking about a standby trip to Heaven! That's one trip that will be not be cancelled when our time comes! In fact, I'm not even talking about a trip. I'm talking about a person.
Listen to John 14:26, Amplified Version. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things.
Isn't it wonderful to know we have a heavenly Standby in the Holy Spirit? And to think He will teach us all things. If you're like me, you have a lot to learn and need a trustworthy teacher you can rely on. Just the other morning as I was getting ready to go to one of our local nursing homes and give the devotions, while I was brushing my teeth and preparing to rush out the door, I asked the Lord to show me if He wanted me to change my talk. And you know what? Immediately the Holy Spirit whispered to me and told me to read a poem about a Christian's first day in Heaven! I wondered if that might be somewhat depressing to people in their final years, living in a nursing home, and confined to wheelchairs. But I listened to the still, small Voice. And guess what? I got an unusally good response from my audience. One person even told a family member about it and how much he enjoyed it!
So, remember -- you have a spiritual Standby. Just be sure to listen for His voice.
Preacher's Kid
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