submitted by Jim

There are 613,746 pilots in the US.  I am one of them.

There are 325,247 pilots who possess an instrument rating, the FAA’s first-in-a-series of ‘professional’ ratings and the most difficult to obtain. It’s like organic chemistry for a pre-med major – the weeder course of aviation.  As of last Tuesday, August 11, after 40 hours of flight training and 15 hours of ground training over a two year time period, a two hour written examination, a two hour oral exam and a three hour exam flight, I finally became instrument rated.

As I reflect on the countless hours I spent pouring through the Bible-sized FAA Federal Aviation Regulations and Aeronautical Information Manual, DVDs, study guides and whatnot, I cannot help but consider the amount of knowledge and training the government requires before allowing someone to fly in the clouds without visual reference to the ground. I then reflected on the amount of time I studied with the same intensity the Bible-sized Bible – God’s manual for flying by faith without visual reference of the spiritual realm. No doubt priorities were askew, but lessons learned.

When I fly by instruments, I have to prepare in advance for the day ahead. First I check the weather and ask myself is it even safe to fly today? Forecasted thunderstorms, ice in the clouds and extreme turbulence are not things that pilots willingly subject themselves to.  They are to be avoided at all cost.  Either I am to fly around them, or not fly at all. Sounds a lot like looking ahead and avoiding situations where sin and temptation could ultimately undo me.

Second, I file a flight plan based on where I would like to go.  This serves as a form of communication with others and the FAA that they will know where I will be flying at all times – Accountability.  However, every time I file where I want to go, Air Traffic Control (ATC) amends my file to where they want me to go. ATC no doubt understands where I want to go, but they also know where everyone wants to go and they work hard on making sure we all don’t bump into each other 10,000 feet in the sky in the clouds. Omniscience – I find God altering my desired course all too often too.

After preparing and filing, I have to actually fly, perform.  As ATC barks out commands, I have to follow them – no exceptions. I have to be mentally ‘with it’ – no excuses allowed. When they say climb to 9,000 feet, it’s 9,000 feet plus or minus 100 feet, that’s it.  If I fail to maintain that, I’m getting a friendly reminder that I am not complying. Obedience, plain and simple. The alternative to obeying is a close encounter with a 500 foot radio tower, another aircraft, fuel exhaustion or simply flying off course.

After this observation, shouldn’t we challenge each other in our faith in the same manner the FAA challenges pilots? Is not our walk with the Lord and the eternal life He gives immeasurably more important than a pilot license that will lose all authority the moment I die? When was the last time I asked someone to test me for two hours on how well I understood the Bible? How would I do? I’m not sure I want to know.