THE BASEMENT ELEVATOR
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
When we see one pigeon among hundreds with its breast to the ground, wings spread and fluttering against the pavement, and limping from one position to another on barely perceived legs, we feel pity and want to help. Why do we give attention to one pigeon more lowly than the rest? They are all lower than us. They are all less than we are. They are going about their normal day under our normal unconcerned gaze. Yet, there is this one lower than the rest that gains our attention.
Everyone is aware of the pitiful bird and wondering who will help. Finally, someone rushes over to the depressed pigeon and lifts it up above all the rest to give comfort and help. People feel better, look up, and continue on their way. But, the pitiful pigeon, from the lowest position among birds and men, is suddenly elevated to the gaze and attention of its comforter; lifted up to a better place.
God does the same. There aren’t a multitude of gods looking and going about some aggrandized business of the gods in ignorance and less than observant of men. God’s eyes alone run to and fro through the whole earth looking for the humble and broken. Anyone who wants God’s attention need only take a trip to the basement of their heart and enter the elevator of humility.
It’s a strange elevator. There are doors on every level between us and God, but the elevator can’t be called from any one of them. The only access is from the basement. Occasionally, the doors open and someone gets off the elevator before it reaches the top. Why wouldn’t they want to be lifted up as high as God intends? Apparently, the Lord made it possible for us to have our own will and exercise the right to depart at any time. There is no button to push, no bell to ring, or an operator with which to speak. All one has to do is stand up. As soon as we stand up of our own will and under our own power the elevator stops with doors wide open.
There is a level just short of the glory of God, the horse-shoe and hand-grenade level; where many mill about feeling they have come close enough for Christ. The truth is, they reached the peak of their spiritual growth and turned their back on the life God had willed and wanted for them. It’s a long and almost impossible journey for these high-minded people to go back down to the basement. But, if they will, they can make the trip.
There are many levels and stops along the way up. Many take the trip over and over, making it a little higher each time. Some take it in long intervals, not attending to the tick-tock of passing time and the fleeting loss of opportunity. Then there are those who go all the way.
Every trip to the basement leaves a mark on our lives. The basement is the low point; the broken place of our spirit and will. There are almost as many people milling one level up from the basement as there are at the horse-shoe and hand-grenade level. These look down as others take the descent. Never does a person make it to the elevator whole and complete. Everyone who arrives in the open door of the elevator arrives in a broken state of affliction, mourning, and weeping. Some onlookers shy away from the final descent in discomfort and apprehension. Others of an evil tongue look forward to the spectacle in sarcasm, criticism, or outright mockery. For the one at the elevator there is no thought of spectacle but of Christ. Finally, with only strength to lift arms to God, the doors of the elevator close them off from view.
If we stay still and let the love of Christ bring us all the way, there is a wonderful surprise. God places us on our feet, complete and whole, full of the Holy Spirit. Being submissive and drawing nigh to God, resisting the Devil, cleansing hands, and purifying our hearts keeps us humble in the Lord’s sight. We remain on our feet through the strength and blood of Christ.
The moment we rely on our own strength we find ourselves at the beginning of a long descent.
James 4:6-10
May we all draw nigh to Jesus!
