They won’t be afraid of bad news, their hearts are steady because they trust the Lord.
Psalm 112:7 NCV
A young pilot had just passed the point of no return when the weather changed for the worse. Visibility dropped to a matter of feet as fog descended to the earth. Putting total trust in the cockpit instruments was a new experience to him, for the ink was still wet on the certificate verifying that he was qualified for instrument flying.
The landing worried him the most. His destination was a crowded metropolitan airport he wasn’t familiar with. In a few minutes, he would be in radio contact with the tower. Until then, he was alone with his thoughts. His instructor had practically forced him to memorise the rulebook. He didn’t care for it at the time, but now he was thankful.
Finally, he heard the voice of the air traffic controller. “I’m going to put you on a holding pattern,” the controller radioed. Great! thought the pilot. However, he knew that his safe landing was in the hands of this person. He had to draw upon his previous instructions and training, and trust the voice of an air traffic controller he couldn’t see.
Aware that this was no time for pride, he informed the controller, “This is not a seasoned pro up here. I would appreciate any help you could give me.” “You’ve got it!” he heard back.
For the next 45 minutes, the controller gently guided the pilot through the blinding fog. As course and altitude corrections came periodically, the young pilot realised the controller was guiding him around obstacles and away from potential collisions. With the words of the rulebook firmly placed in his mind, and with the gentle voice of the controller, he landed safely at last.
This illustration for me is so profound. I am still a learner even at my tender age. I may have the certificate of belonging to Jesus (saved by grace is my certificate) but my journey in life is often like the young pilot having untroubled waters then suddenly hitting fog and all the other interruptions in life that come my way.
The secret for success is like that of the pilot.
- Like the young pilot don’t trust yourself completely, even though you have had the training and are certificated.
- Like the young pilot, I need to listen to my instructor who gives the same advice – memorise the rulebook, the Bible.
- Like the young pilot, I need to rely on and put my trust in someone who can guide me through the storms of life and land me safely. Who is that? Great question and for me, it is the Holy Spirit who guides me through the maze of life much like that air traffic controller. The controller assumed that the young pilot understood the instructions of the flight manual. His guidance was based on that. Such is the case with the Holy Spirit.
You see God expects us to do something and that is to study God’s Word. Here is the advice God gives us “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim.3:16).
The pilot at least could draw on somethings during his journey. Information! Because his instructor made him read the manual until he could do it almost blindfold. His instructor knew the importance of information. The young pilot could draw from information received if not from the fact of his little experience in flying.
God reminds me and you the same. Learn the manual, draw from the information, even if you have little experience. God can guide you with the little information you have, you have to read it.
Can you imagine how the young pilot felt. Finally he heard the voice of the air traffic controller.
The reason we need to read the Bible is that when we do we can make it in life’s journey because TRUST in God comes through the information I have received. The Bible speaks so much on how to make life’s journey work. Like the pilot, I will still need help but having read the manual will at least give me confidence. During the lockdown and other situations, I am about to face how do I navigate bringing Erdington Elim Church back together again? I know the journey is going to be blue skies but there will be some thunderstorms along the way. I have to trust in God and rely on the Holy Spirit and if I do that I am certain the navigation of Erdington Elim Church coming together again will happen. So I need to ACT out what I believe.
Let me end with an extract from Power of living by Jamie Buckingham page 81
Someone said that the definition of a Christian is one whose life is totally dominated and controlled by the Lord Jesus Christ. How do you know what Jesus wants of you? By reading His Word. In the pages of the Bible, you will find God’s will for your life.
We have an excellent Christian radio station in the town where we live, and I enjoy listening to music from it on my car radio. However, as I drive away from home I begin to lose the station on my radio. I can do a certain amount of fine-tuning, but eventually, the station disappears, and almost at once I pick up another station which plays music I don’t care for. The station back home is still broadcasting. My radio is still working. The trouble is I have moved too far away to get a clear reception.
When I drive home at the close of the day there is a spot on the motorway where suddenly my home station is picked up again. I’m back within range.
The reason I read my Bible daily is to keep me within the range of God’s voice. I make enough mistakes as it is without tuning out the Word of God from my life. A daily look at God’s Word will give you access to God’s wisdom and knowledge, keeping you safe from wrong decisions and filling you with power for living.