Pastor Glenn “Spacial Disorientation” May 6, 2021
Dear Family,
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12.
Below are excerpts from an article by Bob Martens about how aircraft pilots
can overcome vertigo while flying. The article link is at the end of this letter.
“Spacial Disorientation” or “pilot vertigo” is a condition that can exist when visible fixed references are not available to an aircraft pilot. This can happen when visibility is lowor at night. When this condition exists the pilot of an aircraft must “immediately transition to the flight instruments.” Of the eight tips given in the article, the last one is particularly applicable to the point of this letter. “Most importantly, become proficient in the use of flight instruments and rely upon them. Trust the instruments and disregard
your sensory perceptions.”
When Israel’s first king, Saul, saw that his army was melting away because of its fear of a massive Philistine army, he “felt compelled” to intrude upon the office of the priest and offer sacrifices to gain God’s favor in battle. When confronted by the real priest, Samuel, Saul gave a two word reference to justify why he would do such a sinful thing. 1 Samuel 13:12 begins with the words “I thought…” King Saul let his feelings override his obedience to God as he allowed fear to dictate his actions.
My friends, this approach to life in our culture is at epidemic proportions as we see so many who “feel compelled” to live in a way that “seems right” to them. The problem, of course, is they have no fixed point of reference as to what is morally wrong or right. They are “flying in the darkness” without God and His word as their fixed point of reference.
The final result of living a life void of God and disregarding of His word is death. Now “death” could mean physical death, as in the case of a pilot who while experiencing “pilot vertigo” continues to trust his “sensory perceptions” and crashes. But, it also could mean spiritual separation from God forever. If I live my life my way without a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, I will remain in my current condition
of spiritual death because of my sin. But, if I accept God’s lordship of my life, trusting in His Son and by faith following His word, I will have spiritual life and my final destination will be with Him forever.
Throughout my life I will always have a fixed point of reference as to how I should live, no matter how I feel. At the end of my physical life, I will be able to share in exactly what the apostle Paul said about God’s promise to him in 2 Timothy 4:18: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
What God says is of infinitely greater value and accuracy than what I feel. My prayer for myself, for you and for all people is that if there is a conflict between how we feel and what God says, we will always default to trusting God and His word. Let us strive to become “proficient” in correctly handling the word of God, trusting in Him to bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom!
In His Name,
Glenn
https://pilotworkshop.com/tips/overcoming_vertigo_imc/