Ben Vick
In the midst of Paul’s discussion of our putting off this fleshly tabernacle and our being clothed with our house that is from heaven, we find this simple law: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). This principle should govern our daily lives, regardless of the circumstance. Too many, even supposed Christians, do not follow this rule of conduct. The end result of such a course is disaster of the worst kind to oneself as well as others. The failure to observe this rule is illustrated by the recent tragic deaths of John Kennedy Jr., his wife and her sister in the plane crash near Martha’s Vineyard.
The tragic death of JFK. Jr., his wife and her sister has elicited much talk regarding mechanical failure of the plane or the inexperience of the pilot. It was speculated that he may have had to fly by instruments due to the weather conditions. To us who are not pilots we might say such is “flying blind.” Kennedy did not have his instrument license; so was a novice. Many times novices suffer what is termed “spatial disorientation,” i.e., one may become queasy and suffer vertigo, a condition where the inner ear loses its grasp on reality. Frequently, it involves dizziness and nausea. A pilot who suffers from this is not sure which way to turn to level the wings. He may be diving or climbing.
Flight instructors, according to what I have read, teach flying students how to deal with this problem of vertigo. The first precept in instrument flying that they try to get across to their students is to ignore the body’s sensations. The delicate mechanism of the inner ear that provides a sense of balance can also provide false cues. A pilot who feels that the plane is level, for example, might in fact be diving to the left. A pilot is also instructed to pay attention to the instruments, checking and cross-checking them frequently to get a clear picture of what is happening tot he plane. It is the case that sometimes distractions overwhelm even the most experienced pilot. Safety experts speak of the pilot’s workload and point out that most errors occur around takeoff or landing, when a pilot is busy, and not during cruise, a simpler phase of flight.
This terrible tragedy which received, it seems, undue coverage, remains us as Christians that we are to be guided by the word of God, not our feelings or sensations. Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The faith, like the pilot’s instruments, will direct us; our feelings will mislead us. Perhaps Kennedy thought he was flying level when, in actually, he was diving to his death.
Jeremiah said, “O, Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). What many think is right is often times wrong and will lead to disaster. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Saul of Tarsus thought he was doing God’s service in putting early saints to death, but he was wrong (John 16:2; Acts 26:9-11).
The majority of people in the world today do not believe it is necessary to give a “thus saith the Lord” for all that they say or do in religion (Col. 3:17). They think just whatever feels good is acceptable to God. For instance, many think that they are saved by faith only. Numerous people believe that one church is as good as another. Tens of thousands think that instrumental music in worship is OK. Millions think they are saved because they feel they are saved and then would not trade their feelings for all the Bibles in the world.
Just as pilots are taught to frequently check their instruments to see how the plane is flying, so Christians must regularly check the New Testament, comparing their lives to it. Each first day of the week as we partake of the Lord’s supper we are to examine ourselves. Paul commanded, “But let a man examine himself, as so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Cor. 11:28-29). In another place Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith’ prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobated?” (2 Cor. 13:5). Christians must be watchful (1 Peter 5:8).
We must regularly study the Bible. The early church was meeting daily (Acts 2:46). The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Paul commanded Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto they doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt save thyself, and them that hear thee (1 Tim. 4:13-16).
As distractions can overwhelm even the most experienced pilot, so can distractions overwhelm the child of God. Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). We must not allow the world, even things that are not wrong within themselves, to distract us from our goal –heaven.
Let us walk by faith and not by sight.
This article is from THE INFORMER, edited by Ben Vick out of Indianapolis Indiana.
