Eastern Airlines Flight 401


“These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." Matt. 23:23


On the evening of December 29, 1972, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing 101 people. But what made that tragedy even more appalling was that it was easily avoidable.


While preparing to land in Miami, the co-pilot noticed that a light bulb on the instrument panel was malfunctioning, and he tried to replace it. Unsuccessful at his attempts to do so, the pilot placed the aircraft on auto-pilot as he tried to assist the co-pilot. In the process, the auto-pilot was inadvertently disengaged. As the pilot and co-pilot worked to replace the defective light bulb, the plane descended and subsequently crashed.


Can you imagine? 101 people died because more attention was given to a defective light bulb than to safely flying and landing a commercial jet. Yet as incomprehensible as that is, far worse mistakes are made every day.


In fact, some that are reading this article may be unwittingly "descending towards destruction" because you have become so focused on worldly things that you are neglecting spiritual matters. Millions of non-Christians (as well as many professing Christians) are so busy attending to jobs, schooling, sports, entertainment, hobbies or the social media that God, Jesus and the Bible are compelled to “take a back seat". Tragically, many of these distracted souls will be unaware of their peril until it is too late. They will find themselves face-to-face with God, totally unprepared .


Brethren, don't get so caught up with the cares and riches of this world (Matt. 13:22) that you lose sight of your eternal destination. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:2).


Jesus, always Jesus!


Dennis

ARE YOU "ON-BOARD"?


Speaking of his death, Paul wrote, “…the time of my departure is at hand..." (2 Tim. 4:6) Although our “departure date” is unknown, it may come at any moment. Are you ready? Studying the following "Trip Information" will help.


BOOKING:  Arrangements must be made in advance, preferably today (2 Cor. 6:2).


I.D:  Persons seeking entry will not be permitted past the desired gate unless their names are recorded in the official log book (Rev. 21:27).


DEPARTURE DATE & TIME: The date of departure is unknown. All travelers are advised to be ready for departure at any time (Matt. 25:13).


TICKETS:  Jesus paid the full price on the cross. However, you must receive it by believing in Him, repenting of sins, confessing faith Jesus, and being baptized (Acts 2:38; Matt. 10:32; Acts 22:16). You must also hold on to your "ticket" (Heb. 3:6).


LUGGAGE:  No luggage is permitted (1 Tim. 6:7). Everything you will require will be furnished upon arrival (1 Pet. 1:4).


MEANS OF TRAVEL:  All travelers will be going by air (1 Thess. 4:17).


VACCINATIONS:  None required, as the desired destination will be disease free (Rev. 21:4).


CURRENCY:  Non-perishable assets can be forwarded to await the passenger's arrival. Deposits are made by giving generously and serving others (Luke 6:38; Matt. 6:20-21).


CLOTHING:  A glorious and durable wardrobe will be provided (2 Cor. 5:2-4).


RESERVATIONS:  Tickets may be obtained at any time. Since the departure day is unknown, everyone should obtain a ticket as soon as possible (See “Tickets” above.). Procrastinators may be too late (2 Cor. 6:2).


FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS, consult God’s word (Jam. 1:21).


Jesus, always Jesus!


Dennis

Earning Our Way to Heaven?


Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, once said, “I am telling you, if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in…I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.” He apparently said this in view of his tireless crusades against obesity, smoking and gun control. (I wonder if he mentioned anything about his faith in Christ?)


Mr Bloomberg's comments may seem presumptuous and arrogant to Christians, as well they should. According to the Bible, "by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast"  Eph. 2:8-9. Isaiah observed that our righteous works are as filthy rags in the God's sight – Isa. 64:6. Moreover, Jesus declared that we are unprofitable servants even when we do everything God asks of us - Luke 17:10.


But before criticizing Mr Bloomberg, we should examine our own thinking. Do we ever assume that we will be admitted to Heaven because we:
·        Attend church three times weekly?
·        Give generously each Sunday?
·        Read our Bibles daily?
·        Pray several times a day?
·        Help the poor?
·        Are a faithful husband, wife, father, mother, father, etc?


Don't misunderstand - obedience to Jesus, including doing good works, demonstrate genuine faith - Jam. 2:14ff. But heaven isn’t a matter of attainment, it’s a matter of atonement - 1 John 2:2. Salvation does not occur because of the good we do, but because of good that Jesus did when He died on the cross in our place - 1 Pet. 2:24.




None of us will enter heaven because God owes it to us. We will enter because we truly believe that Jesus Christ paid the debt that we can never pay ourselves - 1 Pet. 3:18.

 Jesus, always Jesus! 

Dennis

PARABLE OF THE 3 TREES (Author unknown.) 
Once there were 3 young trees that longed to become something important.
 
The first tree wanted to be used as part of the furniture in a royal palace. One day people came to the forest and cut the first tree down. It was hewn into rough pieces and nailed together to form a manger to feed cattle. Eventually it was sold for a pittance and placed in a stable in Bethlehem. The tree was heartbroken because it was relegated to feeding animals. However, one night Mary carefully laid her firstborn child - JESUS - in the manger. The manger trembled with delight.  "This is wonderful!  I never imagined that I would provide a bed for the Son of God!”
 
Years passed, and more men came to the forest to chop down the second tree. This tree dreamed of becoming a royal vessel for transporting kings. But instead it became a small, leaking fishing boat. Eventually a man named Peter obtained it for his trade. The little boat was not happy. But one day, as it sat on the shore of the Sea, Jesus of Nazareth stepped into it and began teaching a large crowd.  "This is wonderful!" it thought. "I never imagined that the Son of God would use me to preach His word."
 
More years elapsed, and Romans soldiers came to cut down the third tree. This tree had hoped to be used in the construction of a temple or synagogue in which people could worship and glorify God. The Romans, however, had other ideas. They chopped and chopped until only two long, thick beams remained. They then connected the beams to form a cross. The tree was horrified. "All I wanted to do was glorify God, and now they are going to use me to kill someone!”
 
Shortly afterwards, a large crowd lined a street in Jerusalem. In the middle of the crowd was Jesus, carrying this tree. Eventually, He was nailed to it. As Jesus was dying, the tree heard Him speak words of compassion and forgiveness. Jesus then died, and the earth shook. Only then did the tree realize the significance of the moment. "This is wonderful! I never imagined that I would glorify God by enabling His Son to die for the sins of the world."
 
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Never forget that God has a SPECIAL PURPOSE for you and me. “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL COMPLETE IT until the day of Jesus Christ.." (Phil. 1:6)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis

CAN I BE WRONG?
 
“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” Jer. 10:23
 
One of the biggest obstacles to accepting truth is man’s prideful tendency to assume that he is always right.
 
A wealthy man had a large painting of the leaning tower of Pisa prominently displayed on a wall. But nearly every morning he noticed that it was hanging crooked. He eventually found out that his maid was adjusting the frame to “straighten” the tower. Many people attempt to do the same with God’s word. If they encounter something that does not match up with their lives or beliefs, they try to twist God’s word to harmonize with their beliefs, as opposed to adjusting their beliefs to conform to the truth.
 
Some years ago a man in Oklahoma ordered an expensive barometer. After receiving it, he noticed that the gauge on the barometer indicated severe storms, although the weather outside was beautiful. Believing it to be defective, he packed it up, intending to return it to the manufacturer. Late that day, severe storms moved in, producing a tornado that damaged many homes in his neighborhood. In a similar way, the Bible warns that the world will be destroyed by fire without warning  – 2 Pet. 3:10. Yet millions of people firmly believe the world will go on forever.
 
In a more tragic case, a woman got up in the middle of the night to get her husband some sleeping pills. In the dark she got the wrong bottle and gave him strong antibiotics, to which he was allergic. The next morning he was rushed to the hospital, but pronounced dead upon arrival. His wife was inconsolable and refused to believe that he was dead. It was only after the drug mix-up was discovered that she accepted his death as reality. Many people today trust their feelings to get them to heaven. Even when they are shown that they are living in contradiction to the scriptures, some refuse to believe that they are lost. This is the most tragic mistake possible.
 
ALL of us can be wrong at times. Admitting this that will help us to keep an open mind as we read and heed God’s inspired word – 2 Tim 3:16-17.
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis