I was recently watching a movie in which a little girl was on a swing and a large boy who was behind her asked, “Do you need a push?” When the little girl smiled and nodded, he put his large hand on her back and gave a gentle push.
Then the little girl exclaimed, “Push me higher, push me higher!”
It brings back memories, doesn’t it? When I was a kid, one of the most fun things to do at the playground was to swing on the swings. And when a kid is swinging, she wants to swing higher and higher. That’s the thrill of swinging.
The new year is upon us. We have made many mistakes during the year-gone-by, and we have accomplished some good things; but those who aspire to living the most satisfying life possible are those who desire to go higher still. Higher in doing good. Higher in being good. Higher in commitments and faithfulness—living a life that is higher than the year before. Isn’t this why we make New Year resolutions, because we want to be better, do better than we have ever done? We want to leave this or that behind and achieve what we have always known we are capable of.
Reminiscing about the higher life brought to my mind a hymn we used to sing in church. It was written by Johnson Oatman, Jr., and the name of the hymn is Higher Ground:
“I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day— Still praying as I’m onward bound, ‘Lord plant my feet on higher ground.’
“I want to live above the world, Tho Satan’s darts at me are hurled; For faith has caught the joyful sound, The song of saints on higher ground.
“I want to scale the utmost height And catch a gleam of glory bright; But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found, ‘Lord, lead me on to higher ground.’
“Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith on heaven’s table land; A higher plane than I have found— Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Living life on a higher plane than before is not something we are compelled or even asked to do on our own. God our Father has always been for us because God loves us more than we could ever imagine. Not only does God desire we live our lives higher and higher; God helps us, assists us in living the higher life. God can push our swings higher.
And all of this reminds me of a story my dad told me of an airliner that was taking off and flying south from Tel Aviv, Israel. The captain came over the inter com telling the passengers, “In about one minute, those of you on the left side of the aircraft will be able to look out your windows and see Jerusalem.”
A minute passed, and then, two. The captain’s voice was heard once again on the intercom, “I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen; you will not see the Holy City because we were flying too low.”
I realize I have used a variety of images here: New Year resolutions, swing sets, hymns and passenger jets; but rolled into one, I think you must get the idea. When the Jesus of Revelation says, “I make all things new,” it is clear Jesus means ALL things: new years, new possibilities, new powers, new lives. All it takes is a little faith, a little commitment, to turn to that big Hand behind us and pray, “Push me higher, Lord; push me higher!”
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