Tight Rope Walk of Love

Tight Rope Walk of Love

Have you ever been to the circus and watched someone walk on the high wire? Each step is placed carefully in front of the other as the audience watches with bated breath. High above the crowds someone is walking with nothing wider than a rope beneath his or her feet. With each step that is taken, hearts pound with a combination of fear, wonder and expectation.

Several things lead to success as a high wire walker. The first is the correct placement of the body’s center of mass. Walking on the ground, one has a fairly wide base of support and does not require much assistance in maintaining balance. The tight rope, on the other hand, though secure has a very narrow base. Great concentration and attention to proper body placement is required. As weight is shifted from one foot to the other, care must be taken that the center of mass does not shift from side to side. Focus and intentional movement are necessary for success.

In life we walk giving little thought to what we are doing. The same can be true spiritually. Scripture states, “…for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.” (Matthew 7:13 AMP) We can spiritually wander aimlessly into destruction if we do not pay attention to the path we are on. It is important that we attempt to follow the narrow path “But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.”  (Matthew 7:14 AMP) This walk, although far more difficult, is much more rewarding. We will be taken above the mundane of the ordinary life on an adventure of obedience to God’s Word.

The Christian walk is a walk of love. “And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.”  (Ephesians 5:2 AMP) This love is explained as, ”and what this love consists in is this: that we live and walk in accordance with and guided by His commandments (His orders, ordinances, precepts, teaching). This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you continue to walk in love [guided by it and following it].” (2 John 1:6 AMP) And Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 AMP)

Balance is always critical, in wire walking and in love walking. The wire, or tight rope, walker extends his or her  arms and often carries a pole that is carefully weighted. The arms or pole extend out to the right and left to help the performer keep their balance. This results in less tipping and the performer can correct dangerous sway by rotating the pole.

The apostle Paul tells us that faith and hope are intricately connected with love. “And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 AMP) This faith and hope help us to balance and continue on this wire walk of love. “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 AMP) “Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14 AMP) Placing our hope and trust in God alone gives us the strength to walk in love.

Because the wire or rope can cause cuts and bruises, tight rope walkers typically perform in a very thin and flexible shoe with suede or leather soles. These shoes protect the feet while allowing the foot to curve around the wire. We were also given appropriate shoes as a part of our spiritual armor. “And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15 AMP) With the good news of God’s love and the completed work of Jesus Christ we can gracefully walk extending that love to others.

We are called to an exciting love walk with God. Obedience to God’s word will keep us centered. Faith and hope in the Lord will provide the balance to keep us on track. And the good news of Jesus Christ will make our steps sure. We can live this love walk that will be watched by many. Even when it is not easy we have this promise. “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP)

So put on the Gospel shoes and pick up your hope and faith. Walk in love every day.