For Lord’s Day December 18, 2011

Dear Saints,

I got a call late Thursday night to inform me of what had happened to my Mother. She had left on the plane that morning. I dropped her off at the San Diego Airport and we said our goodbyes. She was to fly straight to Philadelphia. She did not. Something went wrong.

The pilot apparently got on the intercom and, in a very slow and somber voice, said that he had an announcement to make that he had never had to make in his thirty-plus years of flying. He then said the airplane was fine, and they had enough gas. Then he repeated very carefully that he had an announcement to make that he had never had to make in his thirty-plus years of flying. Apparently even the flight attendant was scared, as she had no idea what was about to happen.

Imagine how you would feel with that announcement as you looked out the window over the mountains with no safe place to land. It was said that you could hear a pin drop in the cabin. Hearts were in throats.

My mother thought she was going to die. She did not. Something went wrong with the pilot’s eye.

The poor man’s retina had detached. He had determined it was not wise for him to try and fly the next five or so hours all the way to Philadelphia. They landed in Phoenix, switched pilots, got folks new tickets, and were back up in the air. My Mother made it to Philadelphia. She did not catch her initial flight, but caught the next one from there to Stewart Air Force Base in NY, near where she lives. She had quite the story to share when she finally called me late Thursday night.

It is interesting that the pilot announced the situation the way he did. He sure had people scared. Folks imagine he was in a bit of shock, perhaps even evaluating his life and career while he shared the news, as it sounds probable that he’ll not be flying again. Please pray for him. He made a wise decision to keep people safe (and perhaps it will save his eye from going blind).

What if that was you in the cabin? And what if it wasn’t the captain’s retina that had detached, but an engine? What if you looked down over the mountains and knew it would be the last thing you set your eyes on in this life? Would you be ready? Ready to meet your Maker and Judge? What if you had it announced to you that you were about to die? Could you handle it? There will be such a day with such an announcement, and if not just before we die, afterward. Our departure from this life is the first death. There is a second death on Judgment Day awaiting those who have not made peace with God in this life by being reconciled to Him in Jesus Christ. They will look over the earth on their way into its fiery belly, never to return.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Heb 9:27)

 Think about it. And come to worship Jesus tomorrow, Who brings healing in His wings.

Semper Reformanda,

Pastor Grant