Avoid The Collision: Climb

In fact, as I think of it, the whole incident had parallels in the Holy Bible. First, the pilots of the jets wanted to get to their destination. Likewise most people realize that there will be a destination when they pass from this life, and most prefer “heaven.” The words of Christ in Matthew 7:13-14 indicate people have a sense to “enter,” but warns that one needs to make the right choice.

According to news reports, at least one pilot was given the wrong instructions. He was told to turn around at one point, but that made him fly against the incoming traffic of the airport! Whether we personally know Christ or not, satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh give us plenty of wrong instructions. In Mark 13:5 Christ warned us about deception, especially in the last days.

Since the one jet was heading toward oncoming jets, there was a very high probability of a collision. Because the church of Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-23) permitted ungodly teaching that encouraged people to sin, unless they repented, God promised punishment for those who followed the erroneous doctrines. They were on a collision course involving the results of disobedience to God.

Sure enough the jet on the wrong path neared an incoming jet. However, an audible warning sounded in both cockpits stating, “Climb! Climb!” Now, if you have read much of Holy Scripture you might notice words like “arise,” “rise up,” “rise,” and “above” often occur in these precious writings. Regarding this incident near Colorado I have to think of Hebrews 2:13-19 where we are adjured by the Holy Spirit not to harden our hearts when we hear the voice of God. The most common ways God speaks to us are in our conscience and spirit, and through the Holy Bible.

Without hesitation, the pilots climbed. They were trained not to second guess such a warning. By the Holy Spirit, Paul told his readers in Colossians 3:1-4, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Many lives were spared because the pilots obeyed and climbed. According to I John 2:17 this world is on a collision course with destruction, but those who obey will have Eternal Life. Also, consider the fact that we are social creatures. It is better we obey and have a minority follow us than to blindly forge into destruction with the masses of society.

I found it very interesting that the news reports said the planes came within a “blink of an eye” of colliding. With that, consider the words of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul when he wrote about true Christians in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Most Christians feel He was talking about what we call the rapture of the Church, where the true Christians are removed from the earth. That will happen in a blink of an eye. Sometimes death happens that quick too. If we want to avoid a collision with damnation we need to respond to the warning from God for us to climb out of sin by fully trusting, and rising in, His resurrected Son.