EXAMINATION!

It snowed … and snowed … and snowed. So much so, the plane I was to travel on from Aberdeen to London last week was delayed coming in and delayed going out. I was pretty sure I’d miss my flight from London to Dallas.

About two hours late, I finally land at Gatwick. For some reason, we taxi to the international terminal to park at gate 61 in the North Terminal … right next to gate 63 and a shiny, silver 777 flying machine with the letters “AA” emblazoned in blue and red—my plane to Dallas, American Airlines flight 79.

We get to the gate, the pilot turns off the seat-belt sign and, as if on cue, and to my immense chagrin, AA 79 begins pulling out of gate 63. My nose is glued to the window, as I dejectedly watch the aircraft leave. That’s my plane! So near and, yet, so far!

Because we had arrived at the international terminal, they had to bus the passengers to the domestic end of things. To make matters worse, our bus kept shadowing AA 79 on the tarmac for the next several minutes. I couldn’t bear to look. That is (correction: “was”) my plane! So near and, yet, so far!

The long and short of it was that because I was a few minutes late, I had to spend the next 20 hours in a London hotel (I did get to see part of the England v. India first cricket Test on cable, though!). So near and, yet, so far!

That happens far too often in the spiritual life. For those of us who are believers, of course we will not miss heaven, secure as we are in the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. But there is something we might miss out on—and usually not by far … rewards in heaven. So near and, yet, so far.

Especially in this Lenten season, periodic self-examination is called for, to make sure we are on the pathway to moral excellence in the power of God's Spirit; this kind of introspection is quite a pervasive theme in the New Testament.

… each one must examine one’s own work ….
Galatians 6:4

… so that the [examination] of your faith,
being more precious
than gold which is perishable,
even though [examined] by fire,
may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ ....
1 Peter 1:7

Let’s pay especial attention to our communal partaking of the Lord’s Supper, utilizing that dominical ordinance as an opportunity to examine ourselves, and of course, taking steps to correct our courses as necessary.

But one must examine oneself,
and in so doing one is to eat
of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28

… [examining] what is pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:10

The goal of that self-examination? To live as He would have us live. To qualify for His rewards. To hear His words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” To please God. To excel for His glory.

Finally then, brethren,
we request and exhort you
in the Lord Jesus,
… that you excel still more.
1 Thessalonians 4:1

Now for this very reason also,
applying all diligence,
in your faith supply moral excellence,
and in moral excellence, knowledge,
and in knowledge, self-control,
and in self-control, perseverance,
and in perseverance, godliness,
and in godliness, brotherly kindness,
and in brotherly kindness, love.
For if these qualities are yours
and are increasing,
they render you neither
useless nor unfruitful
in the true knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5–8