Contrails

Do you know what this is? I bet you probably recognize this as a jet's contrail . . . the trail planes make when they are flying really high and really fast. Here's an official definition.

Contrails (short for "condensation trails") or vapor trails are long, thin artificial clouds that sometimes form behind aircraft. Their formation is most often triggered by the water vapor in the exhaust of aircraft engines, but can also be triggered by changes in air pressure in wingtip vortices or in the air over the entire wing surface. Contrails are made of water in the form of a suspension of billions of liquid droplets or ice crystals.

Artificial clouds. Interesting.

You can barely see it in this picture, or in real life for that matter, but at the front end of this "artificial cloud" is a jet airliner carrying hundreds of people to some far away destination. If you zoom in a bit and take a closer look you can actually see the plane and begin to understand just where these contrails come from.

As I was out walking last night I watched one of these planes, flying towards the sun. I thought about the people on board. Some were heading home from business trips, others were going on vacation. Some maybe were heading off to the military or some might be flying home to say goodbye to a loved one. Many different people, just as many different stories.

I wonder. Do you think there were any Christians on that plane? I bet there are a few. Hard to tell these days. Here's another thought. Do you suppose the plane took off without someone? Did someone miss their flight and was left standing at the gate, sad at being left behind? Again, it's possible. We'll never know.

There once was a man at an airport, holding his suitcase and staring out the window watching the planes taking off. A lady at the counter made an announcement and people started getting on the plane. Soon the passenger lounge was empty, except for our friend with the suitcase. He stood there watching as his plane backed away from the terminal, taxied to the runway and then took off. He looked sad.

The lady at the counter came over and asked, "Sir, wasn't that your flight? You're still holding your ticket."

"I was going to California! I have a ticket! Now I'm just standing here. I thought I was going and now I'm not. What happened?"

"Well, sir, at some point you simply have to get on the plane!"

It that us standing there in the lobby with our "faith" in our hands? We can think we "believe" in God. We go to church on Sunday. We think we are going to heaven. Will we be the ones asking ourselves, "Why am I still here?" after Jesus comes back to collect His children - the church?

Saying you are a Christian does not make you one. Going to church on Sunday doesn't make you a Christian either. What does? Being IN the plane. Being IN Christ Jesus makes all the difference. Never heard of the phrase "in Christ?" Is appears 460 times in the Bible.

"14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ." - 1 Peter 5:14

"To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi . . . " - Philippians 1:1

"8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1

SO, how do we get IN Christ? This answer comes from Gotquestions.org:

To be "in Christ" means we have accepted His sacrifice as payment for our own sin. Our rap sheets contain every sinful thought, attitude or action we have ever committed. No amount of self-cleansing can make us pure enough to warrant forgiveness and a relationship with a holy God (Romans 3:10-12). The Bible says that in our natural sinful state we are enemies of God (Romans 5:10). When we accept His sacrifice on our behalf, He switches accounts with us. He exchanges our list of sins for His perfect account that is totally pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:21). A Divine Exchange takes place at the foot of the cross: our old sin nature for His perfect one (2 Corinthians 5:17).

To enter the presence of a holy God, we must be hidden in the righteousness of Christ. To be "in Christ" means that God no longer sees our imperfections; He sees the righteousness of His own Son (Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 8:12). Only "in Christ" is our sin debt cancelled, our relationship with God restored, and our eternity secured (John 3:16-18, 20:31).

Are you "in Christ?"

If not, get on board! Take a seat and enjoy the ride. Refreshment is coming your way and your destination is assured - paradise . . . for ALL those who have a ticket and are IN Him.


Who I Am In Christ - Stephen LeBlanc