A 46-year-old woman who was late to her gate for a flight out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, became very angry when she was told that she and her husband and son could not board the flight. She was told that the plane was already taxiing and could not be brought back to the gate. But what made her absolutely furious was when she was told that all their checked luggage was on the plane.
Using abusive language, she then told the employees that there was a bomb in her checked luggage. It was an incredibly foolish thing to do! The plane, which was by this time on the runway, had to be brought back and the passengers taken off. Then the Broward County Sherriff’s Office threat management unit had to inspect the luggage and plane.
Though the threat was found to be false, she is now facing one count of false reporting concerning planting a bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction. She was arrested immediately after the incident with a judge ordering her to undergo a mental health evaluation and her bond was set at $10,000.
Marina Verbitsky’s bogus claim disrupted a lot of people’s schedules and caused an unnecessary scare for everyone. Why would she even think of doing such a thing? According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a relative of Verbitsky who did not want to be named said that “it was a mistake. She was nervous about the son needing to go to school. It was a mess, but it was definitely not meant to be.”
We live in an age when people are very quick to become angry. Do you think her excuse will make the judge find her not guilty? Not if they are a just judge, it won’t! People try to justify their anger and violence, but the Bible tells us it is a sin. “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” (Psalm 37:88Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (Psalm 37:8)).
Often, one sin leads to another. In this case, this woman’s anger led to her telling a big lie. Jesus spoke very clearly about who is the father of all liars. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. ... When he speak[s] a lie, he speak[s] of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:4444Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)).
The Bible tells us that “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)). Anger, violence, hateful behavior, immorality, lying and deceiving are all sin in the sight of God. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you can improve yourself by your own efforts in order to be good enough for heaven. It’s impossible! Anger management courses, psychiatric help, penance, community service and the best desires to do better will not solve your sin problem. The longer we live, the longer we just pile up one big, foul, stinky, rotten mountain of sin before God.
SENSELESS THREAT
A few months before the incident above, Wegal Rosen, who was 74 years old, was checking in at the Air Canada counter at the Fort Lauderdale airport. When the agent informed him that he would have to pay to carry on one of his bags on his flight to Toronto, he became very angry and simmered with rage. Leaving his bag at the counter, he stomped away. When the agent informed him that he needed to take his bag, he replied that there was a bomb in it. It was a threat that couldn’t be ignored — but what a commotion it caused!
Airport authorities and local police and law enforcement became very busy indeed! Three terminals were closed and swept, roadways were closed, eight flights were cancelled and dozens more flights were delayed. Many people were stranded at the airport for hours, all because of one man’s unchecked anger.
Mr. Rosen was arrested later that day and charged with falsely reporting a bomb threat. He now faces up to 15 years in prison for his rash threat.
Two people — one 46 years old and the other 74 years old — could not control their anger or their tongues. You see, they were still under the power of Satan and sin. The Bible tells us that faith in Jesus is the only answer for man’s sin problem. Faith in Jesus and His shed blood for our sins on Calvary’s cross will save our souls and make us suitable for heaven. “In whom we have redemption through His [Jesus’] blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)).
Once we have put our faith in Jesus and the work that He did on the cross for our sins, repenting before God and asking for Him to forgive us, we are instantly forgiven and made suitable for the presence of God. But there is more! As Christians we need to properly recognize Jesus as the Lord of our life. What does that mean?
It means totally and completely submitting ourselves to Him. Give Him your thought life, your ears (what you listen to), your eyes (what you look at), your tongue (what you say), your hands (what you do) and your feet (where you go). Read your Bible every day and pray to Him for guidance and help to live for Him. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance [self-control]” (Galatians 5:22-2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22‑23)).
If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, He is well able to help you to overcome sin and whatever character weakness that you may have. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psalm 34:88O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8)).