Saint Martin is a popular destination in the Caribbean Islands for tourists. On the Dutch side of the island, Sint Maarten, tourists can go to Maho Beach and get sand blasted as large planes take off and land at the nearby Princess Juliana International Airport. All that separates the beach from the runway is a narrow road and a fence. Thrill-seekers like to hang on to the fence or stay on the beach under the direct path of the planes in order to feel the jet blast. Hanging on to the fence, or “fence-surfing” as it is called, is popular because the jet blast from departing planes is much more severe than from arriving planes.
But there is real danger to this thrill. People do not realize just how powerful the blast from a jet engine can be. A large jet-engine aircraft can create back winds up to 120 mph for up to 200 feet behind it! And that’s at only 40% maximum rated power! Jet blasts are capable of flattening buildings and destroying cars. It is a real danger to unsecured objects or to people standing in its path. Airport personnel, such as mechanics and baggage handlers, know how powerful jet engines are and wouldn’t think of standing behind a jet engine. They are wise enough to know that it could easily kill them.
CLEARLY MARKED
Because of this known danger, authorities discourage tourists from hanging onto the fence or from standing on the beach while a plane is landing or taking off. There is a gigantic sign hanging on the fence which reads DANGER in huge red letters. Underneath is a picture of a plane taking off with a person being blown away by the jet blasts. But an even clearer warning is given than that: Big red words clearly state, ”Jet blast of departing and arriving aircraft can cause severe physical harm resulting in extreme bodily harm and/or death.” The message could not be stated in plainer words.
Yet YouTube has many videos of people standing on the beach getting sand-blasted, being blown into the ocean, or hanging on to the fence for dear life as planes take off and land just a few feet over their heads. It all made for lots of thrills and good fun until July 12, 2017. A 57-year-old woman from New Zealand was hanging onto the fence as a plane was preparing to take off. When it did, the jet blast caused her to lose her grip on the fence, blowing her backwards and smashing her head on rocks. She ended up dying in the hospital a few hours later. She had paid the ultimate price for disobeying a very real and clear warning.
ARE WE ANY WISER?
Our tendency is to say, “How could she be so foolish?” and “She got what she deserved!” but, really, are we any different? Seeing people hang on the fence is just a graphic picture of what’s in all of our hearts. We naturally do not like to be told not to do something. Since the Garden of Eden, man has rebelled against God. God put Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden and commanded Adam, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-1716And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16‑17)). In Genesis 3 we read how Satan came to Eve and deceived her into disobeying God. Adam, knowing what he was doing, also disobeyed God. Man has been rebelling against God and authority ever since. God told Adam exactly what would happen if he disobeyed. “Thou shalt surely die,” God said. And, just like God decreed, man has been dying ever since that act of disobedience, for Adam’s sinful nature has passed upon us all.
But God, who knew what would happen when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him, also knows what will happen to man after he dies. Those who put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood on Calvary’s cross for their sins will enter into eternal life with Him. Those who live on in their sins, unforgiven, without thought or repentance towards God will perish forever. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)). Since the stakes are so high and the consequences of our choice towards God are eternal, God gives us a faithful and clear warning of what happens if we die in our sins. “The wages of sin is death [hell]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). And again, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). God is “long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He clearly tells us what the end result of our choice towards Him will be. “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)). God’s warning could not be clearer: Will you choose to be with those who “go away into everlasting punishment” or will you choose to join the “righteous into life eternal?”
Ignored Warnings
Although there had been other injuries previous to this lady’s death, people ignored the warnings. A person who works in the aviation industry put it this way: “After all, up until now they’ve been able to say, ‘Nobody has ever died.’ Now ... I’ve already actually heard it from several people: They’re saying, ‘Only one person has died. Must’ve been a freak accident!’ And ... they’re still standing behind the airplanes.” Man loves to make excuses for his rebellion, but God says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect [or, are careless of] so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)).
Did the people holding on to the fence see the signs? Yes, they did. Did they know that what they were doing was wrong? Yes, they did. The director of tourism for the island, Rolando Brison, told The New Zealand Herald, “I met with the family of the deceased this evening and while they recognized that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret that the risk they took turned out in the worst possible way.” Regret is an awful feeling, because it means that it didn’t have to end that way. It is right to have compassion for how this family must feel. God’s Word tells us that those who reject His offer of salvation will regret it for all eternity. God describes these people as being in “the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42,5042And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42)
50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:50)). So serious is the warning that Jesus repeats it twice! Oh, the hopelessness of being in this condition, knowing that it doesn’t have to be so! Do not ignore God’s solemn warnings, but receive Him as your Lord and Savior now, while you still can.
From a thrill to death in just hours shows that life is pretty short! Be Aware of the Actuarial Table helps to put that in perspective.