Terry Thompson’s Blog

I am both saddened and perplexed when people have trouble accepting Jesus Christ by simple faith.  They say they just can’t trust something or someone whose existence they cannot prove.  Yet, everyone exercises faith every day in common ways and subjects their lives to someone they do no know or something they do not understand. Almost every aspect of our lives requires faith.  If we were seriously ill or injured, most of us would readily accept a doctor’s drug prescription or recommendation for surgery.  Yet, we cannot prove what is in the pill or whether the surgeon is capable of cutting on us successfully. We simply have faith in the doctor and the pharmacist.  We assume by testimony or evidence that something or someone is valid.  What greater testimony do we need than that of believers who have a relationship with the Lord?  What greater evidence do we need than what the Creator is doing all around us?

Just as one single error in one instrument can be deadly in IMC, one error in thinking can be disastrous in life.  Millions of people work hard all their lives to be “good” and worthy of anticipated eternal reward.  They go to great lengths to ensure that their good deeds more than compensate for their bad deeds.  They go to church, volunteer for benevolent efforts, are kind to others, and genuinely believe they are covering all the bases.  They may even sincerely believe in God and call on Him in times of need.  However, they err in one critical factor. They have never made a personal heart connection with Him through Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  Yet, many have not asked for and received the forgiveness that only Jesus can provide and have not begun a personal relationship that promises the destination of eternal life with Him.  Do you fit this description?  Are all the critical factors of your spiritual life correct?  If so, do you need to talk to someone dear to you about their course in life?

Dead reckoning navigation began with the first seagoing voyages beyond the sight of land.  Celestial observation and DR developed simultaneously with DR being the primary means of navigation under overcast skies.  It was also a confirmation of sun and star measurings.  All that is required, then and now, is a compass, a speed measuring device, and a time piece.  Unfortunately, an error in any one of the instruments or calculations will likely result in failure to arrive at the planned destination. 

We may have every reason to believe that our direction in a certain area of our lives is logical and good only to find out later that we missed one planning factor.  Every thing we do in life should pass the test of the leading of the Holy Spirit, biblical instruction, prayer, and the advice of other believers.  Missing one of these crosschecks is like missing a dead reckoning element–it causes us to miss our planned destination.

In our modern world of flying, we seldom think of dead reckoning (DR), the method of using course, speed, time, and distance to reach our destination.  Why trouble ourselves with that when our on-board equipment gives us exact course tracking with constant updates on present and future position.  Actually, though, we are using DR all the time as all the latest avionics incorporate its elements in their system algorithms.  We should never lose sight of the basics and how to use them.

Regardless of the modern systems that run our lives, such as instant messaging, GPS, and the internet, in life’s greatest challenges, we have to go back to the basics.  Everything in life ultimately incorporates the basics such as relationships, trust in God, and a strong moral fiber.  Just as we should not become too dependent on our latest systems in the cockpit, we should not live our lives completely confident in our latest conveniences.  Acknowledge the basics that still matter and make sure they are what really counts in your life.

As noted in yesterday’s post, false signals in air navigation can be deadly.  So can life’s false signals.  Some can take their victims to the extremes of cults.  David Koresh’s Branch Davidians and Jim Jones’ People’s Temple were examples of false signals gone wild.  Most false signals, however, are much less obvious, but can be just as devastating.  It is easy to lose your adherence to the absolute truth of God’s Word when other ideas and standards seem more relevant to issues of our generation.  The world’s prevailing message of the day is to tolerate almost everything in the interest of unity and respect.  Prominent people speaking with authority are sending such false signals.  We must constantly identify the source of the signal, verify it with other inputs, and, if necessary, adjust back to the reliable truth of God.

In the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese place mobile navigation aids in strategic locations with the same frequencies as established stations used by American military aircraft.  These false stations would broadcast at a higher power and draw our fighters and bombers into the sights of the antiaircraft weapons.  The signals checked out as accurate in the cockpit, but they led the aircrew to their demise.

We have been given perfectly accurate and reliable direction for our lives that will keep us on course and progressing well on our journey.  This direction is clearly received from the Bible, from a Bible-teaching church, and from the Spirit of God within us.  However, today’s world sends false signals our way constantly.  We can be so easily fooled by a more inviting signal that appears genuine but actually takes us off course just enough to be disastrous.  Verify every signal you receive to make sure it is from the right source.  Failure to recognize the true signal could bring serious consequences.