Kingsford Smith and the Love of God
In 1928 Kingsford Smith and his three crewmen became the first to cross the more than 15,000kms between the United States and Australia. They did it in three legs, from America to Hawaii, from Hawaii to Fiji and from Fiji to Australia. Their plane, the three-engined ‘Southern Cross’ had open cockpits which meant they were exposed to freezing temperatures and driving rain. The roar of the engines was so loud communication was only possible from notes passed between the men. To lighten the plane they removed the proper seats and sat in unsecured cane chairs. When violent storms tossed the plane about they had to hold on to stop being thrown out. A number of times they were forced to climb above the storms. This used up precious fuel but seemed rewarded when they broke through the top of the storm clouds into brilliant sunshine.
Climbing above the storm into brilliant sunshine parallels an amazing truth about reconciliation. The word describes parties that have been estranged from each other but have been able to deal with the cause that divided them. Once the cause was dealt with, the parties could come back together.
God has always loved us, like the sun always shining, but our sin separated us from Him, like a massive storm blocking that sunshine out. God took the initiative by sending His Son to take our sins as if they were His own, and then to die for us. This was the only way the storm of sin and rebellion that blocked out the sunshine of God’s love could be righteously dealt with.
God’s feelings for us never changed. The sun always shines. God has always loved us. But what has changed is His treatment of us. Once the storm of our sin was removed we were amazed to feel the sunshine of His love. That love has always been there. The storm blocked us from seeing and feeling it.
Enjoy the sunshine of God’s eternal love for you. Christ’s death has parted the clouds – forever.
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