Life’s Flight Attitude

In His Name Devotionals
LIFE'S FLIGHT ATTITUDE

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Consider the analogy between flying and life.

Life has its ups and downs, its turbulence and its smooth flying. We sometimes stall, but hopefully recover and make a smooth landing.

Every aircraft must have a PIC or Pilot-In-Command. All decisions are determined by the PIC before and during flight. A co-pilot assists the PIC and when necessary flies the airplane. Think of God as your co-pilot in life. He helps you through the turbulent times in life when you struggle to stay on course and He helps you maintain a steady flight path. He is there when you mess up and cannot fly and is ready to help you soar when you are ready.

Before a flight, the pilot performs preflight planning and calls the FSS, Flight Service Station, for information regarding winds aloft, true heading and the current and predicted weather. Recommendations are made by personnel at the FSS concerning departure under anomalous conditions. Fog, thunderstorms or other convective weather phenomenon can either delay or cancel a flight. Similarly, changes in our lives necessitate checking with life’s FSS, our Savior, to determine a true heading. We must allow God to lead us in the major decisions of our lives and to trust His way even though they seem incongruous to our understanding (Psalm 37:3; 125:1; Hebrews 13:6).

Before flight, a pilot checks out all systems to be certain the aircraft is air worthy. Comparably, we must ‘check out’ things which are a part of our lives and ascertain if they are harmonious to a Christian life (1 Cor. 15:58).

When we begin our Christian journey as new babes in Christ we need the nourishment of God’s Word and the encouragement of fellow Christians. During take off an aircraft needs full throttle with maximum air mixture. Nominal take-offs require no flaps, a designated rotation or lift-off speed and a best angle and a best rate of climb out. New babes in Christ also need full throttle and teaching of the Word. When an aircraft climbs, it is important to be aware that too great an upward angle or a too nose up attitude results in a stall. During take-off, near the ground, it could be fatal. In comparison failure to receive instruction in God’s Word and failure to grow as a Christian results in a stall and ultimate straying from the Lord. Jesus discusses a similar situation in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23.

The attitude of an aircraft is most important in maintaining a level coordinated flight path. If the plane assumes a too nose high attitude, a stall develops, leading to a loss of lift and a possible spin. Our lives can also be put in a nonrecoverable spin due to attitude. A haughty attitude is condemned in the Bible (Jer. 48:29; Isa. 3:16-26). Citizens of Zion are humbled for their haughty spirits. Jesus commands us to practice humility (Matt. 18:4; 1 Pet. 5:5-7).

Landing an aircraft is a crucial time during flight. Proper communication is absolutely necessary. Directives from the control tower must be repeated and followed exactly to ensure the safety of all incoming aircraft. The proper rate of descent, airspeed and separation from other aircraft is necessary. In comparison following the guidelines of the Father is crucial to our eternity. We must maintain the life-speed and separation from the world to keep us living in accordance to God’s will. An aircraft in distress has priority over all other aircraft. In life a child of God in distress has priority and Christians pray and work together to ensure their steadfastness. Remember the crew of Apollo 13 and how the entire world prayed for their safe return to earth? In the same ardent way we must pray for each other and for all mankind to have a safe, full stop landing in eternity.