Have you ever given much thought about Newton’s Law of Gravity?
Let me explain. Several months into my initial tour in Vietnam, back in early 1967, I was assigned several air missions to set up defensive concentrations for infantry units in the Central Highlands.
A defensive concentration would be used to protect U.S. troops in the area from potential attack from the enemy.
That may sound simple and not too dangerous, but in reality, calling those missions was quite risky and challenging.
As a young second lieutenant, I was fairly fearless and had no reservation in taking on the assigned task. The missions were conducted by my team from a vantage point several hundred meters in the air, requiring me to hang halfway out of a UH-1D (Huey) helicopter.
I can still recall the exhilaration of those occasions and often considering what it would be like to simply let go and fly!
My better judgment always kept me from such foolishness and I’d hold on a bit tighter during those moments of allowing my thoughts to wonder about the full force of gravity taking me to my demise.
When it comes to the word gravity, I’d like us to consider a few synonyms that fit this discussion more fully.
Seriousness, significance, importance, severity and enormity all help us to better see where this discussion is headed.
Seriously, as a young warrior I was terrified about returning from war in a body bag, but didn’t even consider where I might spend Eternity!
Before joining the Army, from age 16 to 21, I learned a bit about God, but must admit I never developed a real fear of God nor appreciated the concept of Him being my Lord and Savior.
Church was a fairly important part of my life, but it was pretty much limited to Sunday mornings. I never considered the significance of all God had created and seldom opened my Bible.
I never considered the severity of God’s plan of salvation for mankind so beautifully presented in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Nor did I consider the following verse 17, which reads, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
The enormity of God’s plan of salvation and provision for His creation is unfathomable.
In Romans 1:21, the Apostle Paul states, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
That verse pretty well sums up where I was back then. Perhaps you can relate to Paul’s accusation of the many who proclaim to know God. We all need to reflect on Paul’s words.
The importance of this whole discussion comes down to this: The gravity of it all requires us to realize that we are finite beings, who have been created by an Infinite Being.
And, He has put us here for His purpose. With that premise, we would all be wise to fear Him and give Him the glory for our very existence.
To God be all the glory and honor and praise!