It was a cold day in January when Al taxied his small plane toward the runway at the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, airfield, in the northern part of the United States. Al was going to fly alone that day. It was not his first time to fly alone, but he had not done it very many times. He was still a student pilot.
His plan was to fly to another city in Wisconsin and return, for a round trip flight of only about 250 miles.
“This looks like a great day for flying,” he thought as he waited for permission from the control tower to take off. “A few clouds to the north, but they don’t look too bad.”
Having gotten clearance to take off, Al flew smoothly into the cold, still air. Heading northeast, he climbed until reaching his flying altitude, and then he leveled off. Then he had a chance to look down, and what he saw was frightening. He saw that the “few clouds” had become a solid blanket of clouds under him. He could not see the ground at all. Al was worried! He had never flown when he couldn’t see the ground before, and he was not fully trained to fly using only the plane’s instruments.
Al realized that he was in danger. He made the right decision — he radioed for help.
Al’s call was heard by the air traffic controllers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two controllers, Ron and Dick, found Al’s plane on the radar screen. Then it was their job to come up with a plan to bring him safely back to the ground. They told Al to turn until he was headed back toward Eau Claire where there were some breaks in the clouds.
Meanwhile, an experienced pilot named John, who was taking off nearby, volunteered to help guide Al to a break in the clouds. With the help of the controllers, John found Al and started leading him back to safety.
During the flight back toward Eau Claire, the engine of Al’s plane stopped two times! John told him how to start it again each time. But then, just as a large opening appeared in the clouds, the engine quit again ... and this time he was out of gas! There was no way to start his plane now, so Al had no choice. He headed toward the ground, knowing of no place to land, having no fuel and no power.
Could it be that Al was “almost saved” but now would crash so close to the safety of an airport?
One of the controllers said to the other, “He will be killed ... that’s hilly country with power lines, trees, and snow on the ground!”
As Al started down, he was sure he would never be able to land the plane safely. The only things he could hear were the rush of the air outside his plane and the quick instructions on how to land his powerless plane, being given by John, who was still circling above him.
“Nothing but hills, trees, and snow,” thought Al as he tried to pick out a spot to land. Then he spotted an empty road near a lake. He decided that would be where he would try to land his plane. Following directions from John, he made it! Soon John radioed the two controllers the good news that Al was safely down, out of the plane and walking.
Al Hansen was relieved, happy and thankful to be safely on the ground again. He wrote to John and the controllers thanking them for their help, knowing that without them he would have been killed.
Al was wise enough to call for help when he was lost and in danger, and he got the help he needed. He couldn’t see his way to safety, but others knew the way and were willing to help him. Did you know that, in a way, all of us are like Al? None of us can see with our eyes what lies beyond this life. We know that everyone dies. Where do they go? The Bible, which is God’s book, gives us the answer to this important question. It clearly tells us that there is one of two places where everyone will go ... heaven or hell. It also teaches us that no sin can enter heaven, and it teaches us that all of us have sinned. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). So ... what can
we do?
The good news is that God made the way for us to go to heaven. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. Then, Jesus rose again from the dead and went back to heaven. This shows us clearly that God was satisfied with the work Jesus did to put away the sins of those who will believe and receive God’s salvation as a free gift. If you simply believe on the Lord Jesus, you can go to heaven. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and [you will] be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). Isn’t that simple? I hope you will be wise, like Al, and call to Him for salvation.
Memory Verse: “What must I do to be saved? ... Believe on theLord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:30-31
Messages of God’s Love 1/21/2024