Trust the Divine “Instrument”!
A man tells the story of a flight he took on a commercial jet. Seated next to him was a former commercial pilot that currently flies smaller planes. The two became engaged in a conversation concerning the risks associated with flying.
The pilot said, "Many people assume that these huge jets are built more safely and, therefore, are less risky than smaller planes. People also suppose that small planes are more dangerous because they are involved in more crashes than their large commercial counterparts.”
"But," he continued, "that is untrue. The reason that more small planes are involved in crashes has little or nothing to do with inferior equipment. It is primarily due to the mistakes of inexperienced pilots."
The first man replied, "Tell me more."
"The most common mistake of inexperienced pilots is that they occasionally refuse to believe their instruments," the pilot said. "For instance, in low or zero visibility conditions, they are tempted to trust their instincts rather than their navigational instruments. That's when they get into serious trouble."
"For example, they may become convinced that the plane is climbing when it is not. Even though their instruments indicate that the plane is flying level or even descending, inexperienced pilots have a propensity to distrust the instruments and fly the plane according to their senses. They may even believe that the plane is turning or banking when it is flying straight and level. When the pilot ignores his instruments and adjusts the plane according to his intuition, he is far more likely to crash."
Then he said, "Although aircraft instruments may not be 100% reliable, they are much more dependable than human instincts. If pilots would believe their instruments as opposed to their physical senses, there would be far fewer crashes.”
And so it is with life. It is a fact that most people get into trouble when they “fly by the seat of their pants", acting in accordance with emotion, intuition or gut feelings. Countless crimes, affairs, frauds and other ungodly acts have been rationalized by the explanation “It FELT like the right thing to do.”
Even Christians occasionally fall into the trap of relying on feelings instead of the DIVINE STANDARD. I have heard scores of erring brethren defend their sinful behavior by saying, “It felt right at the time” or “My heart convinced me that it was okay.”
Thank God that we possess a SPIRITUAL “COMPASS” THAT IS 100% INFALLIBLE –
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…” (Psalm 19:7)
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Satan, of course, will continually coax us to believe that if something “feels right, it cannot be wrong!” However, keep the following truths in mind –
“O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
Like every plane in the skies, each of us is headed for a specific destination at the end of life. If we desire to reach heaven, we must trust the infallible “instrument” of God’s word and steer a straight course based on His divine revelation rather than human intuition.
"You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:24)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis!
A man tells the story of a flight he took on a commercial jet. Seated next to him was a former commercial pilot that currently flies smaller planes. The two became engaged in a conversation concerning the risks associated with flying.
The pilot said, "Many people assume that these huge jets are built more safely and, therefore, are less risky than smaller planes. People also suppose that small planes are more dangerous because they are involved in more crashes than their large commercial counterparts.”
"But," he continued, "that is untrue. The reason that more small planes are involved in crashes has little or nothing to do with inferior equipment. It is primarily due to the mistakes of inexperienced pilots."
The first man replied, "Tell me more."
"The most common mistake of inexperienced pilots is that they occasionally refuse to believe their instruments," the pilot said. "For instance, in low or zero visibility conditions, they are tempted to trust their instincts rather than their navigational instruments. That's when they get into serious trouble."
"For example, they may become convinced that the plane is climbing when it is not. Even though their instruments indicate that the plane is flying level or even descending, inexperienced pilots have a propensity to distrust the instruments and fly the plane according to their senses. They may even believe that the plane is turning or banking when it is flying straight and level. When the pilot ignores his instruments and adjusts the plane according to his intuition, he is far more likely to crash."
Then he said, "Although aircraft instruments may not be 100% reliable, they are much more dependable than human instincts. If pilots would believe their instruments as opposed to their physical senses, there would be far fewer crashes.”
And so it is with life. It is a fact that most people get into trouble when they “fly by the seat of their pants", acting in accordance with emotion, intuition or gut feelings. Countless crimes, affairs, frauds and other ungodly acts have been rationalized by the explanation “It FELT like the right thing to do.”
Even Christians occasionally fall into the trap of relying on feelings instead of the DIVINE STANDARD. I have heard scores of erring brethren defend their sinful behavior by saying, “It felt right at the time” or “My heart convinced me that it was okay.”
Thank God that we possess a SPIRITUAL “COMPASS” THAT IS 100% INFALLIBLE –
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…” (Psalm 19:7)
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Satan, of course, will continually coax us to believe that if something “feels right, it cannot be wrong!” However, keep the following truths in mind –
“O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
Like every plane in the skies, each of us is headed for a specific destination at the end of life. If we desire to reach heaven, we must trust the infallible “instrument” of God’s word and steer a straight course based on His divine revelation rather than human intuition.
"You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:24)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis!
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