When we prepare to take a trip by air, we definitely want to have a good pilot and co-pilot on board. This is not the time to take second best. To allow one who has no experience or interest in our safe landing, to take the wheel and us, up over six miles into the atmosphere, is definitely risky. We want an expert at the helm. We want a commander. We want the One who can get us through whatever happens on our journey. We want a co-pilot who is a helpmate to the pilot. Joins with the pilot for a safe trip.
Why then, do we settle for less than that in our day to day lives? There is One who desires to be our spiritual pilot. He wants to take us through life as pilot. We take the second seat. One of the definitions for a co-pilot: One who is second in command. Pretty easy to understand. The hard decisions are left up to the expert. The co-pilot assists by obeying the commands of the pilot. He has things to do in preparation for a good flight. Together, they make it to the final destination.
God wants to be the pilot. He has created a course for us. We both know and hope in the final destination. Eternal life in heaven. But the course to arrive there is solely in the hands of our pilot. What seemed early on to be a pleasant, sit back and enjoy the ride adventure? Well, it has had some turbulence along the way, hasn’t it? Some bad weather that caused our pilot to turn us and take us through uncharted skies. A detour, that we did not expect. Financial difficulties. Workplace worries. Relationships meant for a life time, dissolved before our eyes. Illness and injury. Death of those we love. Depression that hovers overhead, night and day. Uncertainty and fear about the world we live in.
We all have different journeys. But as believers in Christ we share something in common. We have the same pilot. We each have different circumstances as the co-pilots of our life. We make different decisions in life. We are on different courses. Our role in the cockpit of life is to obey the commands of the pilot. The course He has charted is different for each of our journeys. He is so efficient at what He does, that He has written the instructions for our flight through life. We can be certain of one thing. If we do not read the flight plan, if we do not trust in the pilot’s navigational abilities and omniscient knowledge of the turbulance ahead and the detours that will allow safe passage, then safe landing, is questionable.
We all desire to land safely. We can either allow the pilot to carry out His will in our life or we can do our own will. We can chart our own course. We can fly alone. In fact, many of us have tried that for a few years of our life. I can say, that the course of my life on my own, was not near as pleasant, secure and peaceful as it became when I placed my life in the hands of the God of the Universe. The master of safe travel. There will still be turbulance. There will be “scared stiff” moments in our journey. But we are assured that no matter how scary the trip looks, how bumpy the ride, we are guaranteed of reaching our destination.
The Question? Who is in charge? The pilot or the co-pilot? God or you? Or the ideal situation…The pilot and co-pilot, working together, to land safely.
~ Scripture For Today~
Psalm 91: 4-5
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; (KJV)
Psalm 32: 7-8
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (KJV)
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We have before us a new day. A day to hand over our journey to You. Your word says that we are sheltered and shielded from the worries of this day. We trust in Your word. We trust that You will guide us safely through. Forgive us in those moments when we try to go it alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.