Faith, Your Key To The VIP Room

My wife and I took a romantic vacation a few years ago. We decided to step up the memories of this occasion by taking the train. It's a long ride from Jacksonville to Philadelphia, so we one-upped the experience by getting a cabin on the train. Come to find out, this upgrade qualified us for the VIP rooms at the train stations along the way.

Now, I've done my share of flying, but I have never flown first class. My experience usually reflects that of Tim Conway’s in a Carol Burnett skit depicting first class as straight-up royalty while coach passengers get the shaft. I’ve also noticed that there are a number of VIP club lounges at the airports.

Prior to the Amtrak treatment, I only knew what it was like on the outside of these so-called VIP rooms; the hustle and bustle; the hoping to get a seat at Starbucks; sitting on the floor because there are no seats near your gate that has a 110 volt outlet nearby. It all seems pretty normal and, "that’s just the way it is…" until you get a glimpse of the inside. Oh, it’s nice! The first thing you notice when you shut the vault-like door is the quiet. You can actually hear the pleasant music in the background; the lighting is lower; the carpet is thicker; there’s elbow room, and every seat has an electrical outlet. You are treated with dignity, as if you actually ARE important.

Compare this now to The Peace Of God.

Faith is your Keycard; your badge if you will. You slide that thing through the slot there, the door opens up and instantly you step out of the chaos and into an entirely different world called that of peace.

On the outside are some like I was, wondering what is was like in there; thinking, "it's got to be better than this but I’ll never know". Many others think it’s all just a myth and "it’s not that much better in there than it is out here". Then there is that group who has experienced the inside. Of course, they have to justify why they are not still in there, so they further the myth with things like, "Yeah, they think they’re better than us", and "they think they’re holier than thou". Oh, but they remember what it’s like in there when they have to pull off four feet of toilet paper just to dry off a place on the floor; they remember the high-thread-count terry cloth towels when they warm their hands on the public blow dryers before drying them on their pants.

Outside the VIP room everyone is suspiciously looking for the thief who is trying to distract them so they can pick their wallet or steal their carry-on; inside the VIP room they are engaged in polite conversation with others who are at ease knowing that their personal belongings are safe because they checked them in with a personal security agent who will take care of it.

Outside the VIP room people are at unrest thinking of that beggar they gave money to outside the airport, and "He better not buy booze with that!" and, "I’ll bet you that no-good went straight to the liquor store with that money I gave him…"; inside the VIP room people are rejoicing in the joy that they brought that man who might not have to eat out of a trash today, or will perhaps be able to buy some medicine for his child because of their generosity.

Outside the VIP room everyone is talking about their problems; inside the VIP room they're talking about their blessings.

Outside the VIP room people worry about how they are probably not going to get that promotion at work that they deserve because "the boss is in with that slacker, why I work circles around that joker!"; inside the VIP room they are as joyful as already having the job, and thanking God in advance for the the promotion they are going to get.

Outside the VIP room someone is complaining about that guy who is hogging up that prime seat over there. "He’s been there since the last plane left! I saw his boarding pass; he’s supposed to be three gates down! Why won't that jerk move and give me that seat that is rightfully mine?"; inside the VIP room they’re thankful for their own conveniences and happy for the conveniences that others have, and would gratefully give up their own for another.

Outside the VIP room parents are distracted, worried sick about their teenager messed up with the wrong crowd, fearful that they are going to come home and find something terrible has happened; inside the VIP room parents radiate with the confidence that God has got their children covered, protected by angels delivering them from the evils of our time.

The situations are endless, and always, the inside breeds hope while the outside promotes despair. Maybe they don’t know they own the key; that all they have to do is use it. Just slide that card and get inside the peace of God. It is infinitely easier to function in here where we create our own reality then it is out there where we simply accept the illusion of reality that is displayed for us.

Okay, here is your saving grace.

Here is your unlimited "get out of jail free card"; your "game-play extra life"; your "panic button" that instantly transports you to safety. It is portrayed on the backside of this laminated "Faith Card" that you possess. Mark 9:24. It says, "Lord I DO believe. HELP my unbelief." When that clear image of peace begins to fade, don't allow yourself to be ushered out. Flip that card over and use the back side. Everyone else in that room with you uses that "flip-side" daily. It will keep you in the VIP room. It will keep you in "The Peace Of God".