Archive article 4

“No one born of God keeps on committing sin . . . ” 1 John 3:9

It was just after 5:30 p.m. when the last two hot-air-balloons lifted into the air to float south-east, over the main railway line which runs from Bologna to Padova, on towards Poggio Renatico.  We had already seen about ten of these huge “balloons” lift into the air,  the major attraction at Ferrara’s annual autumnal fair in the town park, and there were two more being prepared for lift-off.  At first they were nothing more than immense pieces of canvas stretched out on the grass. Gradually, however, bit by bit, in orange-shaped slices, they rose from the ground as the hot air was pumped into them until they towered above us.

Then came the decisive moment which the Italian commentator announced in his unique way, the moment called “stand-up” – and the balloon lifted itself directly above the large basket which would carry both pilot and passengers. The watching crowd was strangely silent. Every one’s gaze was fixed on the motor which periodically burst into life shooting a startling tongue of flame into the balloon itself. More and more the balloon’s wrinkles disappeared and soon “Smiley the Clown” and “Peacock” were ready for their flights. The commentator has told us to share in a count-down process rather like the American Shuttle’s take off but it was not to be. The moment came when the hot air irresistibly forced the immense puppets higher and higher until, when the restraining ropes were released, they rose to the rousing applause and cheering of us spectators. There was no sound of a motor. There was no blast from a missile rocket. Silently the hot air forced these hot-air giants into the sunset sky.  They could no longer stay anchored to the green grass where we all stood gazing up.

Isn’t this a wonderful image of what happens when God’s powerful Holy Spirit fills the life of the believer? Gradually, he or she, is filled with new life-power to rise from the previous immobile and lifeless existence. As the Holy Spirit fills the believer, bit by bit, the new life rises into an ever changing, fuller and fuller, transformed person. There’s a splendour which emanates from the Christian when the “stand-up” moment comes about and a watching world can only gaze in awe. Depression, discouragement, hopelessness and sin’s shackles can no longer keep the believer tied down. While every balloon carried huge publicity words praising products or countries, the Christian’s life testifies to the wonder of God’s transforming power through Jesus Christ.  As John writes:

“No one born of God keeps on committing sin. . .” – the hot air of the Holy Spirit lifts him, or her, out of the swamp of sinful habits which relentlessly sucked back into the dreary mist of self-pity where the temptation was constantly to just give-up. With a brand new joy, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Christian is lifted up above the old world to float in an entirely new life on towards horizons which were never thought possible.

Praise God for such a gift which will take us on into eternity!

                                                                                                      Pastor Paul Finch