Like most people, whenever I fly, it’s in coach. I walk past the first-class section as I board with a twinge of envy. I think, “gee, it would be nice at least once in my life to fly first-class”. I can barely afford the coach fare on those rare occasions anymore when I do fly. Maybe one day I’ll be the lucky recipient of a free upgrade. That usually involves enrolling in an airline’s rewards club and racking up enough frequent flyer miles (yeah, like that’s going to happen for me!). That or buying their credit card. The same thing goes for other things, like time shares (another pipe dream), travel clubs, hotels. You have to put in the equity and time to garner such rewards as flying first-class, getting first-class accommodations.

It is unlikely that the world will ever give me a free upgrade in status unless I spend more and put in the time. Here’s some irony for you: the one greatest thing that has been upgraded in our status is life itself. It is freely given by God. Thanks to His Son Jesus Christ, we have been upgraded from sinner to saint! Our destination is upward! First-class! We have been elevated from a death sentence to everlasting life! We do not get what we deserve, which is the middle seat in the back row of coach. Or steerage class on the Titanic. We deserve the punishment Jesus received – lashes, the shackles.

Our Lord embraces the lower class, those who fly coach, those who can’t afford a plane ticket ever. It astounds me, and quite frankly makes me bitterly sad, when I think of the huge disparity between those who have plenty and those who have nothing. We blithely refer to the 1% or the 98%. The sheer numbers are astonishing that separate the wealthiest from the poorest in the world. It is heart-breaking, to say the least. But in God’s economy, the poor are blessed, lifted to first-class status. God turns what we think we know about entitlement and privilege and turns it completely upside down. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the most active, vibrant Christians are the poorest people on earth. Even the economy class of American passengers are rich beyond the wildest dreams of the so-called third-world countries. Scripture tells us that the lilies of the field are clothed in greater splendor than Solomon in all his glory. The convicted murderer on the cross next to Jesus will be joining him in paradise. With his dying breaths, our Lord makes that promise, upgrades his status, for no other reason than astounding, unconditional love. We no longer need feel even a twinge of envy for those who enjoy first-class passenger status. We who are in Christ Jesus have received a free upgrade.

Pastor Art