I first read of HALO missions in Erwin McManus’ book, The Barbarian Way. HALO stands for High Altitude, Low Opening and it is an extremely dangerous parachuting jump from heights of 25,000 feet and sometimes up to 40,000 feet where it was undetectable even by radar. At such high altitudes of the Earth’s atmosphere, the oxygen required for human respiration is scarce. Lack of oxygen can lead to Hypoxia.
The paratrooper literally moves into free-fall, where in a matter of seconds his terminal velocity could reach as high 200 miles an hour. He will activate his chute at the last possible minute, roughly 2000 feet altitude, which is barely only enough time to slow his speed and save his life. Men make HALO jumps to breech enemy lines. As McManus accurately write, “If you live, you get to fight the enemy.”
HALO missions can represent a dramatic and accurate metaphor for followers of Christ. The journey into promised lands begins at a high altitude. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2 that God has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. …For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (vv. 6, 10).
The path into the promises of God begin high, but followers of Jesus eventually must engage the fight below. Authentic Discipleship is to have given our hearts to the only One, who can make us fully alive to go where He sends us, to live into His promises, and to fully enter His Kingdom plans and purposes.
God had brought the Israelites on a HALO mission; a deliverance out of Egypt through the safe passages of the Red Sea and the Jordan River, the miracles of bread, meat, and water in the wilderness in the desert, and Divine manifestations of God in both cloud and fire. Now the Israelites stand before the mighty, fortified walls of Jericho and the battle for the city approaches.
The land of promise will usually lay behind enemy lines. You and I will have to find our HALO mission. We will have to fight. We will have to work.
What promises lay behind the walls of Jericho for you? What life has God called you to fight for, which lies behind enemy lines?
- A new identity in Christ?
- A friend-seeker, a lost family member?
- Freedom in Christ from a habit, a fear, or depression?
- A renewal in marriage?
- A clear direction for your career?
Jericho was imposing; a fortified city of pagan worshipers and ruthless. Yet for Joshua, it was a place, where he experienced the presence of the Lord and heard the voice of the Lord. Scouting the great fortress of Jericho, Joshua has found a place of worshipful communion with the Lord. Strangely enough, it was a high altitude moment at the threshold of an intimidating challenge.
- And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. Joshua 6:2
“See” contained God’s invitation to Joshua to see from the realm of the Spirit. It was a message given to encourage. It was a message intended to animate. It was a Word that humbled and produced dependence. Joshua would not fight this battle without a priority of the Presence of the Lord.
A life lived for Christ requires us to live in the realm of the Spirit. Paul wrote, “…be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5.18 ).” The command for all believers maintains the priority of continuous replenishment of the Spirit’s presence; a priority of His Presence.
His power, His authority alone enables us to breech the fortified walls of Jericho and overtake the enemies of a future we are called to possess.