Grace of Many Colors

       

       Contemplate the kaleidoscope of hues which color our world. We live on a blue planet, in the light of a yellow sun, with green grass and brown dirt beneath our feet. We can look across the fields and behold black cows, chestnut horses and white sheep. We can visit the orchards and find red apples, green pears and oranges which are...well, orange. We can look up after the rain falls and witness a heavenly arch of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. As I look outside, I see a "rainbow" of flowers - orange, yellow, purple, white. Only look around and you will see God's true colors!
       In Colombia there exists a river known as the Liquid Rainbow, flowing with hues of red, yellow, green and blue. The island nation of Mauritius is host to a small group of sand dunes featuring seven distinct colors: red, purple, violet, blue, green, yellow and brown. Within China can be found unique landforms, consisting of vibrantly colored sandstone.
       The country known for red, white and blue has its fair share of organic colors to offer. Visitors to the famous Yellowstone National Park can behold the polychromatic prettiness of the Morning Glory Pool and the Grand Prismatic Spring. The former boasts dazzling hues of orange and yellow, and the latter is colored with a virtual rainbow of pigments. Arizona is home to a desert that looks "painted," while Colorado has the colorful rock formations known as the Paint Mines. God is the ultimate artist and we live on His canvas.
       The yellow canary sings in his cage. Flocks of pink flamingos grace our beaches. Our backyards are visited by red cardinals and blue jays. The secretive rainbow snake slithers and swims in its aquatic habitat. The rainbow trout navigates the cool, clear waters of North America. Let's go deeper. There is a whole world of breathtakingly beautiful colors hidden from view in the blue oceans of our planet.
       The brushstrokes of the Creator's hand can be seen beyond our blue rock, in the vast expanse of outer space as well. The universe, according to scientists, is beige in color - not black as we might suppose. The accepted term for the hue is "Cosmic Latte." The Milky Way galaxy is appropriately named, white in color. Stars may appear white as well, but in actuality white is only one of the emitted colors. Based on their surface temperatures, stars can also shine with blue, red, even gold-colored light. Although our own galaxy is snow white, the cosmos is dotted with blue, red, orange, pink and purple galaxies. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork." (Psalm 19:1)

Did You Know? In 2012, astronomers described the Milky Way's hue as resembling "fresh spring snow in the early morning."

COLORFUL GRACE

       Back on Earth, colors are cast in the story of grace. Jesus left the golden splendor of Heaven to sacrifice His life on a brown cross stained with redeeming red blood. Our Savior was mockingly adorned with a purple robe and a brown crown of thorns. The silvery gray tip of a Roman soldier's spear pierced His side. He was laid in a stone-gray tomb from which He arose three days later by the white light of God's resurrection power. He ascended back to Glory where He is seated at the right hand of God's emerald-colored throne which is surrounded by a rainbow (see Revelation 4:3). One day He will return in the blue sky, riding triumphantly on a white horse, at which time Satan will be thrown into the orange flames of the Lake of Fire.
       Even as Jacob blessed his son Joseph with a "coat of many colors," so our heavenly Father has blessed us with grace of many colors (see Genesis 37:3). Think of individual colors as representing different dimensions of God's all-encompassing grace.

SYMBOLISM OF COLOR

       Colors have symbolic meaning. To see evidence of this, look no further than our everyday language.
       When we are feeling emotionally low, we say we are feeling blue. We assign the color green to envy - a person is said to be green with envy. Shakespeare coined the term green-eyed monster in reference to jealousy. A person who is new or inexperienced in a thing is also said to be green.
       The color yellow is the hue of cowardice in our language. If you are accused of being yellow, your courage is in question. This symbolism also shows up in the phrase yellow-bellied coward - not the most flattering name to be called.
       On a more positive note, pink points to health. A person who is in the pink of health has reason to be thankful indeed. A pink complexion usually indicates good health, whereas a pale look signifies an unhealthy condition. Pink is also the signature color for breast cancer awareness.

Did You Know? A computer monitor displays more than 16 million colors.
       

       This idea of many-colored grace has a biblical basis. The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. And the Greek word chosen to describe the grace of God means "many colored." (More on this in Chapter Two.)

THE GRACE RAINBOW

       Grace is many-colored! The same God Who created a rainbow "bridge" in the sky also created a multi-colored bridge to His blessings. That bridge is grace. The diversity of colors represents the different facets of grace.
       Every time you see a rainbow in the sky, you are witnessing the perpetual promise of God's grace. According to the Bible, the rainbow exists as a visual reminder of a divine vow to never again flood the Earth as in the days of Noah (Genesis 9:12-17). Think of the various colors in the rainbow as representing the various blessings of grace. Each color represents a different blessing. To find your way through the Maze, just follow God's rainbow of grace.
       There is grace to calm the REDNESS of anger, wrath and strife. "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (Psalm 119:165)
       There is grace to overcome the BLUES of hopelessness, depression and discouragement. "...the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) Grace can transform mourning into joy and heaviness into praise (Isaiah 61:3).
       The sunshine of God's grace can pierce the GRAY clouds of the bleakest day. "...unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings..." (Malachi 4:2)
       There is grace to replace the paleness of sickness with the PINK of robust health. "Bless the LORD, O my soul...who healeth all thy diseases...who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed..." (Psalm 103:2-3,5) "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and BE IN HEALTH, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2, emphasis mine)
       There is grace to attain the GREEN growth of Christian maturity. "...neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow...you are God's field..." (1 Corinthians 3:7,9, New International Version)
       There is grace to illuminate the BLACK night of spiritual darkness with the bright light of God's Truth. "For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." (Psalm 18:28) "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD..." (Proverbs 20:27) "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:18)
       There is grace to escape the ORANGE flames of eternal damnation and to ignite the fervent fire of the Holy Spirit. One blaze is a source of torment; the other is a source of empowerment (Luke 16:22-24; Acts 2:1-4).
       Because of grace we can enter the BLUE, PURPLE and SCARLET veil of God's holy presence. The sacred Ark of the Covenant - upon which God Himself descended (Exodus 25:22) - rested behind a curtain in "the most holy place," stitched with these colors. The partition pointed to none other than the Savior, by Whose precious blood we gain bold entrance into "the holiest" (Hebrews 10:19-20).
       Grace gives us a GOLDEN future. "...the city was PURE GOLD, like unto clear glass...and the street of the city was PURE GOLD, as it were transparent glass." (Revelation 21:18,21, emphasis mine) Heaven is the original and ultimate "Graceland"!

Consider This: Angels play an essential role in God's ministry of grace. In Revelation 10:1 we are introduced to a very colorful angel. John the Revelator records that this heavenly being, wrapped in a cloud, has a rainbow over his head. Furthermore, the angel's face radiates a sunshine-like brilliance and his feet glow with the orange appearance of fire. This latter feature is unsurprising - God makes His angels "a flame of fire" (Hebrews 1:7; Psalm 104:4).

© Matt Decker

» This post is excerpted from my book GRACE IN A MAZE: How to Make it Through (available as  eBook  and  paperback.)

Decoding Digit

"It's a very simple question, Digit." The mysterious girl looks up at her school teacher with eyes that seem to flicker. Ignoring this, Mr. Armstrong continues. "Where are you and your parents from?" Interesting question, to be sure. Interesting and understandable. But far from simple. And certainly not very.
       

You see, this glitching thing extends beyond the family's behavior and environment to their verbal communication. (You really didn't expect them to talk like normal human beings, did you?) This speech abnormality manifests as a bizarre mixture of choppy English and vocalization of binary code. At any point during a conversation, even during mid-sentence, a binary stream of 0s and 1s will flow from lagging lips. Of course, good luck in finding someone in Hollow Graham who has heard this "glitchspeak." It has happened, but only on rare and exceptional occasions.
       

Today happens to be one of these occasions.
       

Digit finally answers. Or at least replies.
       

"It's 01100011 01101111 01101101 01110000 01101100 01101001 01100011 01100001 01110100 01100101 01100100."
       

Did you get that? Neither did her teacher. But Mr. Armstrong is nothing if not thoroughly prepared for every classroom situation. Based on previous interactions with this most unconventional of pupils, he had downloaded a binary code translation app onto his phone.
       

The dedicated educator requires a few minutes to input the spoken numbers into the app. Digit waits patiently, her head zipping in multiple directions at lightning speed. For any other student, this would be great cause for alarm. But Mr. Armstrong knows that she's just glitching right now.
       

"So it's...complicated, huh?" The translation is complete. "Then why don't you try to explain it to me?"
       

This might take a while.
       

Slowly, excruciatingly slowly, a background story for the ages begins to emerge...
       

The mundane environs of Hollow Graham temporarily fade into oblivion. Digit is no longer sitting in the desk-lined classroom. She is no longer looking into the attentive face of her teacher. Suddenly she is far away - so very far away. The transcendent vehicle of her memory has "teleported" her through time, beyond space, across dimensions. She finds herself in a very familiar place. Home. Original home.
       

A storm is brewing. (Well technically, a "matrix malfunction" is initializing.) An epic event is on the horizon. It's set to arrive in just a little bit. After it has passed through, a family will be gone.
       

Light becomes darkness. Powerful currents sweep across the field. Bright bursts of high-voltage energy materialize overhead. An unnerving medley of noises sound. It's definitely near.
       

At last the monster comes into view. A ferocious funnel - a vicious vortex - is rapidly approaching. The doomed family helplessly brace for the inevitable. This is goodbye. It doesn't take long. In an instant, it's all over.
       

This tragedy doesn't strike on the tornado-prone plains of a Midwestern state. It doesn't occur on Earth at all. Where, then? On the alternate plane of a different dimension. And the "twister"? A furiously-rotating vortex of incredible, exotic energy. A wormhole gone wild, if you will. And unlike an earthly tornado, it doesn't destroy. Instead, this thing sucks its victims up like a gargantuan vacuum cleaner, then deposits them in another dimension of its choosing. Imagine The Wizard of Oz in reverse.
       

The victims in our story? None other than the newest citizens of Hollow Graham. That's right. The Glitchesons are the bizarro, interdimensional versions of Dorothy and Toto. They find themselves stuck in a world for which they were never intended, and to which they are ill-suited, to say the least.
       

Summertime in Hollow Graham is a stressful time for young Digit - indeed, for her parents as well. While the neighbors bask in the sun, the Glitchesons remember. They recall the spherical object which, perpetually suspended above their heads, hurled photons down upon their world. But these beams of light did far more than turn night into day. The other-dimensional orb created reality itself - the reality they knew - by the holographic projections emanating from it.
       

For, you see, the Glitchesons are natives of a holographic world. A fish doesn't flop and gasp for air in the water. Neither did the Glitchesons glitch prior to the "wormnado" which summarily booted them from their natural environment.
       

Now, marooned on a spinning rock, in a physical universe, bound to a different reality system - there's a whole lot of glitchin' goin' on.

© Matt Decker

» This post is excerpted from my short story MEET THE GLITCHES, available in its entirety in my latest book SPACE & RHYME - available as  eBook  and  paperback.

Defending the Underbird

Order in the court? Hardly. Unsettled chatter. Anxious questioning. Gasps. A crowd gathers around the defendant's table. The judge has not yet emerged from his chamber and there is already something to talk about.
       

Within the circle of curious onlookers, motionless on the tabletop, lies one BB - flat on his feathered back. "Is he okay?," inquires a voice from the crowd. "What's wrong with him?," asks another. "Is he...dead?," a third voice hesitantly wonders.
       

Presently, a deep voice interjects with authority. "Alright, people. Back to your seats. Remember you are in a court of law. I know how to handle this." The voice belongs to one J. Jay Lawson - accomplished public defender and, as such, BB's legal representative.
       

A third-generation attorney, Lawson has tirelessly defended the rights of the disadvantaged for two and a half decades. He has prided himself on obtaining justice for the proverbial underdog - those who are lacking in financial resources and social status. Considering the zoological identity of his latest client, perhaps he should expand his professional mission to include underBIRDS? Though he takes his work very seriously, this thought never fails to evoke a smile.
       

Lawson's tall and lanky frame towers over his unconscious client. The courtroom spectators, now seated, stare in anxious silence. Lawson removes his black-rimmed eyeglasses, clears his throat and...whistles.
       

What a sight - this polished, dapper warrior of truth and justice whistling in court. A brave member of the crowd heckles. "Does anyone else have a hankering to watch The Andy Griffith Show?" Pockets of laughter escape from rapt faces. Ignoring this remark, Lawson persists in his whistling.
       

Suddenly, there is movement on the table. The diminutive defendant flips over in a flash. A single shake of his feathers and BB waddles his way toward his human advocate. "Welcome back, Sleeping Birdie. Glad you could join us." Scanning the courtroom with a sigh, Lawson takes his seat.
       

"BB, I get the feeling that you don't view this situation with the utmost seriousness." Lawson is leaning toward his avian client, speaking only a notch or two above a whisper.
       

"What makes you say that?," replies BB.
       

"Well, there was that time you went to sleep in court. Remember?"
       

BB giggles. Lawson wrinkles his forehead. "See? That right there is exactly what I'm talking about. Here you are, on trial in a human court, charged with bank robbery. This is serious business. This is your life, BB. Your very life is at stake. And I am here to defend it. And there you are...laughing."
       

"Oh come on," retorts BB. "Give me a break. I am a bird. A bird. I don't rob human banks, I don't break human laws and I don't react to situations in your world like humans do. I came from an egg. Remember that the next time you're flippin' an omelette. Respect who I am instead of trying to make me into your image. Is that too much to ask, Mr. Lawson?"
       

"That's beautiful, BB. Absolutely beautiful. And you know what? When you are molting away behind bars, you will have plenty-o-time to come up with all kinds of beautiful sentiments. And hey! Maybe your cellmate will play the harp or the violin for you. But only one thing matters today, in this court. Did you or did you not, in fact, rob the First Federal Bank? If the court finds in the affirmative, then it's bye-bye-birdie. It's my job to see that doesn't happen. So puh-leeze, BB, in the name of all that is chirpy, take this seriously."
       

BB lowers his head, giving the misleading impression of actually heeding his counsel's plea. After a few moments of seeming reflection, he speaks again. "Mr. Lawson, once upon a time, someone very dear to me taught me a valuable lesson. I am flying on the wings of that lesson into this situation. The exact wording of it is very personal. The only other creature I've shared it with is my tweetheart. But here's the yolk of it: I don't let anything ruffle my feathers. Take a good look. Are my feathers ruffled?"
       

"A little," deadpans Lawson.
       

"Well I haven't been up long. And it's a little drafty in here." BB motions with his wing for Lawson to come closer. The acclaimed attorney uncomfortably inches his head closer to the table. BB continues, assigning emphasis to each word. "Trust me, I'm not worried."

© Matt Decker

» This post is an excerpted chapter from my book  JAILBIRD  (Check out the movie concept below)

Hoppy's Happy

Here's a happy hopper you should meet

Who happily hops on happy feet.
This happy hopper is named Hoppy
And Hoppy is happy as can be.

Happily hopping through his habitat,
Hoppy interacts with a jumper named Jack.

Now this jumpin' Jack is a jackrabbit
And this rabbit Jack doesn't have it,
Jack lacks Hoppy's happy habit.

"Here now, Hoppy,
How so happy?,"
Jibber jabbered Jack,
Jaws jangling like that.

"I don't see even one carrot.
So that goofy grin,
Why do you wear it?"

Hoppy's honey Bonnie Bunny
And her BFF Heather Feathers
(Bird Friend Forever)
They didn't get it either.

"What makes you so happy, Hoppy?
We look around, we see
The same leaves, trees and buzzy bees.
You live in the same world as we.
So where, Hoppy, is our happy?"

The serene scene suddenly spins solemn
So Hoppy happily hands his knowledge:

"Over there! Right here!
Happy is truly here!
When you really look,
Happiness appears."

The curious creature characters confer in confusion
As Hoppy hopes to hammer home his happiness conclusion.

"Happiness is a habit,"
Says happy Hoppy the rabbit.
"You can have it like I have it
If you go after it and grab it
(Like going after a carrot)
And tap it through the havoc."

The jackrabbit Jack at that
Jibber jabbers back in fact,
"Gibberish and gobbledygook!
Hooey and hullabaloo!
If you want me to buy your book,
You got some 'splaining to do!"

Tickled at the thinking of the three,
Hoppy happily hands them the key:

"Happiness isn't a thing,
Happy is a think!
Yes, it is a mindset
(The ultimate carrot)
Do you get it yet?
Happy is what you choose.
What do you have to lose?
You will not lose
If happy you choose."

Happy events were sent then went
But Hoppy's still happy since
He knows they will show again
To his happy heart's content.

Hoppy is happy
Happy as can be
For, you see, he
Has made up his m-i-n-d
To be.

© Matt Decker

Lovebird Becomes Jailbird

BB Meets Bob White

The cold cell door slams shut with an attitude. "Enjoy your stay. Or not." The hulking guard displays a contemptible grin, creasing a scarred and stony face.
       

BB stretches his wings across the iron bars. "Ok. Now I'm startin' to get a lil' worried."
       

The bird world hums along to the pristine rhythm of melodic sound. BB's new world? Not so much. From the harsh clang of forbidding metal to the blush-worthy commentaries of fellow inmates - not exactly a lovebird's idea of harmony. Harmony. Oh sweet harmony. Such a lovely word, such a wonderful thing, such a beautiful --- No, BB mustn't allow his thoughts to go there right now. Too distracting. There are more pressing concerns at the moment.
       

Suddenly the bona fide jailbird detects a somewhat-more-pleasing tune. It seems to be near. Yes, it is definitely near. Very near. But where - where exactly is it coming from? It is assuredly a human-made sound. One of the less-vexing ones.
       

At last BB arrives at the unavoidable conclusion. The mystery music is in the same room, in the same cell, with him. It's behind him. Slowly he turns to literally face the music.
       

There, on the top bunk of two stone-hard beds, lies BB's new roommate. The gray-haired stranger is playing (of all things) a harmonica. Here we go again, says BB to himself. Harmonica. Harmonic. Harmony. I wonder what Har --- no, not now. Focus, BB. Focus.
       

The last lilting note eventually fades into the hope-plucked air of the iron cage. The man, lying on his back, stares in awkward silence at the dingy ceiling. BB accepts the ice-breaker role.
       

"I enjoyed that."
       

Nothing.
       

After an eternity of more silence (or so it seems), the man speaks. "Bob White."
       

BB is a tad confused. "I'm sorry, what?"
       

"Bob White," the man repeats. He has not stopped glaring at the ceiling.
       

BB scratches for a tactful response. "Well I ---"
       

"Bob White. That's my name. And yours?" Still his eyes have not left the ceiling. BB begins to laugh.
       

"Hear a zinger, didya?," asks the man.
       

"I'm sorry - did you say your name is Bob White?" BB stretches out the name for emphasis.
       

"As a matter of fact I did. What's so funny?"
       

"Ok, ok. I'll play along. Nice to meet ya, Bob White. Now my turn. I guess my name will be...Dan Quail." BB just about pops his plumage with laughter. He chirps, squawks and flaps his lovebird wings. It's this last sequence of sounds which apprehends the attention of the man who says he is Bob White. His bushy eyebrows lower with confusion. Now the ceiling loses his gaze.
       

He turns his head toward the source of the out-of-place sounds. Nothing. He sees nothing. Just the same, old, dismal cell space. Slowly he lowers his view downward. Finally his eyes rest on BB for the first time. Forehead wrinkles. Man swings legs over side of bunk bed. Man falls onto hard cell floor.
       

"What in the --- What's going on here? Who put you in here? Is this some sort of joke? Where did my new cellmate go? Ah great. Listen to me. I am talking to a bird." The man presses his face against the cold, metal bars. "Alright," he calls out into the vacuous corridor. "Very funny! Somebody call the doctor cuz my side is splittin'! Puttin' a bird in my cell. Very clever. Why don't you go --"
       

The man's rant to nobody in particular is suddenly and abruptly interrupted by a voice from behind him. It's a familiar voice. "Hey fella, let's moonwalk it back a little. Still me. I am your new cellmate. The name's BB. That's my actual name."
       

The milling machine of the man's internal dialogue runs at a furious pace. Is this real? Am I dreaming? Hallucinating? Maybe all the years of being confined in here like a caged bird has finally got to me. That's it! I bet this BB character is nothing but a figment of my imagination. I'm just seeing a metaphor - a symbol - of myself. I am the caged bird. That makes sense. Yes! But wait - what am I happy about? Doesn't this mean that I've gone crazy? Ok, here's what I'll do. I will close my eyes, turn around and count down from ten. When I open my eyes again, birdie will be gone.
       

As the man slowly pivots around, said birdie is not in fact gone. Nor will he be any time soon. But the ironically-named prisoner doesn't yet know this. There he stands, eyes shut and fists clenched, inaudibly counting down. BB can't decide if he feels amused or downright freaked. Maybe a mixture. Is he wanting to play hide-and-seek, BB doubtfully asks himself.
       

"10-9-8-7..."
       

BB interrupts. "Um, guy? You alright there?" The man tightens his closed eyelids and fists even more.
       

"6-5-4..."
       

BB tries again. "Well, I love a good countdown. Ask anybody. Boxing, MMA, wrestling, rocket launches. Even The Final Countdown - great song. But not gonna lie...this is gettin' a lil' weird."
       

For the last three numbers, the man covers his ears with his formerly-clenched palms.
       

"3-2-1."
       

Slowly, ever so slowly, he lifts open his eyelids. He is less than thrilled at the sight awaiting him. It is a feathery, you've-got-to-be-kidding-me, disgustingly-cute sight. Then it speaks again.
       

"Sorry to disappoint you," offers BB. "I didn't exactly make reservations to be here, ya know."
       

The man continues to stare in stunned silence. BB presses on. "Let's push the restart button. How about you start by telling me your actual name?"
       

The man clears his throat. Hesitantly, he decides to play along with this --- this --- well, whatever is going on here.
       

"I thought we already covered this. My name is Bob White. Of course, I can understand how you might forget, seeing as you're just a figment of my imagination."
       

"Did you just call me a cookie?"
       

For the first time, the man cracks a grin. "No, that's a fig newton. I said you're a figmen --- oh just forget it. Anyway, the name's Bob White. I have the birth certificate to prove it. My first name is actually Robert, of course," the man explains, "but I've been called Bob for as long as I can remember. Still not clear on why you think it's so hilarious."
       

BB is amazed at the man who calls himself Bob White - amazed at his blindness to the humorous irony in his name. Still, BB thinks it best to move on from the subject. "Never mind, not important. So...what's your story? Why you in here?"
       

Bob White looks down and shuffles his feet. "Bank robbery," he answers after a few moments of regretful reflection. "I'm not proud of it. At the time, I convinced myself that I had no other choice."
       

BB finally feels a sense of rapport and connection with his human cagemate. "Get outta here!," exclaims BB. "I mean --- I know you can't literally do that. It's just that I'm in here for the same reason. Actually, I am innocent. I didn't rob any bank. It was a case of mistaken identity."
       

Bob White smirks and nods. "Sure, little guy, sure. Of course you didn't do it. You're just a sweet, adorable, harmless creature. Right? You are sprouting wings." BB slowly and pointedly spreads his colorful wings. Message received by Bob White. "Ok, poor choice of words. No need to sprout."
       

Suddenly, and quite strangely, the interspecies communication is disrupted. The cell becomes hazy and dim - even more so than usual. BB can see Bob White's mouth moving, but his gruff voice has been muted. Furthermore, BB thinks he hears, from an undetermined location, the muffled sound of a television set. What's going on here?
       

BB shakes his head. Gradually everything returns to normal - well, to his new normal anyway. At last he can hear the sound of Bob White's voice again.
       

"You know what I'm saying, birdie?"
       

No, BB assuredly doesn't know whatever it is that his cellmate has been saying.
       

"Actually I ---" BB stops himself. No need to reveal that apparently important information has fallen on deaf ears. This interaction has been rocky enough.
       

"Sure, Bob White. I hear ya. Totally."
       

BB would love to know what Bob White actually said. But there are plenty of other pressing concerns to occupy his bird brain.

© Matt Decker

» This post is an excerpted chapter from my book  JAILBIRD 

Level Up

       

       The corporate ladder is scaled by ambitious employees, each one endeavoring to level up in their respective careers. "There's always room at the top," they are told. The gamer pursues a goal of a different sort, maniacally focused on leveling up to the next simulated challenge. The young football player lays it all on the field, dreaming of leveling up to a starting spot on a college roster and, ultimately, the pros. "What can I do," he asks his coach, "to take my game to the next level?".
       Imagine that you are a passenger on the Ark. As you look outside, your heart skips a beat. So much water! The old things have been swallowed up by this liquid monster. Although your feet are dry, standing on the wooden deck, you still feel a bit uneasy. This boat - big though it may be - is the only thing separating you from a watery grave. How can you gain a greater sense of security? Level up. Climb up to a higher deck. The top level affords you the greatest distance from the flood.
       Beware of living low. It's dangerous to camp out on low ground. In terms of the Ark analogy, your degree of vulnerability increases in relation to your proximity to the surrounding water. The lower you go, the less safe you become. Conversely, the higher you go, the more protected you will be.
       To the unbeliever, there is a need for leveling up to saving grace. Climb on board the eternal Ark of salvation! Jesus is the Captain (Hebrews 2:10). If you remain outside, you will be swallowed up by your own sin. It may not be raining today. The sun may be brightly shining without a dark cloud in sight. But a day of reckoning is coming. "...the LORD closed the door behind them." (Genesis 7:16, GOD'S WORD® Translation) No human hand can open the door once it has been shut. There is a higher level for you in Christ - a level that will extend throughout eternity.
       To the new believer, the next level is a place of spiritual growth. Grace is necessary - and available - to get you to that place. There is a danger of getting stuck in the "babyhood" stage of spiritual development. You can level up to saving grace without taking the next step to Christian growth. There is, however, a solution to this. The way to level up into the next stage of spiritual advancement is to open up your Bible - and to keep it open. We grow by feeding on the spiritual nourishment of God's Word. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of THE WORD, that ye may GROW THEREBY..." (1 Peter 2:2, emphasis mine)
       Then there is a need to level up to fulfilling God's calling on your life. There is truly grace for your place in the kingdom of God. Ministry isn't exclusive to the ones standing behind the pulpit. We have different gifts and they are based on "the grace that is given to us" (Romans 12:6). Every Christian is called and graced for some form of spiritual service. A tree grows outward as well as upward. Obedience to this personal destiny constitutes a major step-up in your walk with God.
       There are opportunities to level up in the blessings of God. Let's consider one example. Just as there is healing for the sick, so there is grace for sustained health. It's one thing to receive healing when your body falls victim to dis-ease. But there is a higher place in grace where you enjoy ongoing health and wellness.
       Think of it this way: a faucet can be turned on and off, but a stream is ever flowing. Healing is the faucet. When you receive a healing touch from Heaven, the faucet is turned on. Thank God for that! But the faucet, unfortunately, can be turned off when a new affliction attacks you. The stream, on the other hand, is the continuous flow of peak health, warding off sickness and disease.
       Is this lofty level of physical blessing actually possible? The Bible answers in the affirmative. Moses departed this world in exceptionally good health - at the ripe age of 120 years old. According to Deuteronomy 34:7, the passing years had no adverse effect on his eyes, his strength or his vitality. After a century and two decades of living under the aging process, he was as healthy and strong as ever!
       There is a level in grace where no pestilence, plague, destruction - in fact, "no evil" of any kind - can even come near us, much less jump on us. Read Psalm 91. There is grace to "be in health" (3 John 2), not only to "be healed." The same grace that can heal you of sickness and infirmity can also keep you above the self-same afflictions. This is victory on a higher level.
       The heavens are on a higher level than the earth. Likewise, God's thoughts and ways are on a higher level than man's (Isaiah 55:8-9). In similar fashion, our thoughts and ways as believers must be on a higher level than that of the unbelieving world (Romans 12:2). There is a higher level where "life and peace" can be found; it can only be reached by maintaining a spiritual mindset (Romans 8:6).
       There are varying degrees or levels of faith. Jesus spoke of "little faith" and "great faith." There are different levels to prayer. Reciting The Lord's Prayer is a far different level of interaction with God than "effectual fervent prayer" (James 5:16). The Savior, in the Garden of Gethsemane, reached such a deep level of prayer that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44).
       It wasn't until the disciples launched out "into the deep" that they caught an abundance of fish (Luke 5:4-7). In this case they leveled up by going deep. The man who builds an unshakable house must first dig deep (Luke 6:47-48). This requires digging through multiple levels of earth. A seed needs depth - "deepness of earth" - in order to grow (Matthew 13:5). There are different levels of receiving God's Word. We learn this in the Parable of the Sower.
       Jesus came to not only give life, but to give it "more abundantly" (John 10:10). This is a deeper level - and higher level - of life. God is able to elevate us to a level that is "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). He gives grace to the humble, and this grace will exalt you to a higher level in due time (1 Peter 5:5-6).
       After completing His earthly mission of grace, the Master ascended back to heavenly glory. The Bible says He was "taken up" and "carried up into heaven" (Acts 1:9; Luke 24:51). The glorious journey back Home takes the resurrected Christ through the five levels of Earth's atmosphere. Ultimately, He reaches His exalted destination at the right hand of God - in a place known as The Third Heaven (see 2 Corinthians 12:2). And thanks to this multi-leveled return to the Father's side, we can experience multi-level grace to cover each dimension of our lives. Moreover, the day is coming when we will make the same upward voyage through the heavens (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This will be the mother of all level-ups!

© Matt Decker

» This post is excerpted from my book  GRACE IN A MAZE: How to Make it Through  (available as paperback and eBook)

The Hand Book

God's hand
Broad hand
God's hand is a broad hand.

Divine hand
Sublime hand
Kind hand
His hand is kind
It's a lifeline
Bringing sunshine.

Mighty hand
Almighty hand
Lively hand
Place it all into His hand.
What better place than His hand?

Saving hand
Blazing hand
Amazing hand
Embracing hand
Embrace the amazing grace of His hand.

Praying hands
Praising hands
Raising hands
Raise your hands,
Place your hands
Into His hand,
The grace of His hand.

Healing hand
Shielding hand
Revealing hand
Will heal you,
Will shield you,
Reveal to you.

Invisible hand
Spiritual hand
Miracle hand
There are miracles in His spiritual hand.

Essential hand
Providential hand
It's essential to understand
The working of His providential hand.

Calming hand
Calmed by His hand
Palm of His hand
There's calm in the palm of His hand.

Forming hand
Warming hand
Affirming hand
Transforming hand
Be transformed in His hand.

Attendant hand
Resplendent hand
Transcendent hand
Transcend in His hand.

Universal hand
Supernormal hand
Eternal hand
Turning hand
Turn to His eternal hand.

Compassion's hand
A lasting hand
Everlasting hand
His hand of compassion is everlasting.

Christ's hand
Light's hand
Right hand
Christ is The Right Hand.

Hand of Heaven
Hand of Blessing
Hand of Intercession
His hand is His presence.

An understanding hand
Understand The Hand?
Stand under His hand.

Take His hand
Take your stand
Under His hand
Then you'll stand.

Hand out?
Hand up?
He will lift me out
And raise me up
With His hand
And make me stand.

Who I am
Where I stand
Earth and sand
Cells and strands
He understands and
Extends His hand.

Hand of Might
Hand of Light
Joy in the morning
Peace at night.

Sense His hand
Even if not
It's still there
This hand of God.

In the church
On the porch
During prayer
In the air
The Holy Hand is everywhere.

At the school
On the street
Through the cool
In the heat
His hand guides our feet.

The hand of God
Our fate and lot
Are in the hand
The hand of God.

His hand is extended
Defeat can be ended.

© Matt Decker