Spiritual Lessons from Flight 3407

Last week, Continental Airlines Flight 3407 plummeted suddenly from the sky, killing all 49 aboard and one person on the ground. Every aviation expert in government is examining causes and striving for future prevention of such tragic accidents. While I’m not an expert, since I learned to fly years ago, any flight issue is of personal interest.

Piloting a plane in any weather demands one’s keenest concentration, and flying through dangerous weather is taxing beyond words. If evasive or corrective action is delayed, flight may become impossible.

One thing is certain: adverse weather, particularly ice buildup, was the chief factor, and pilot action or inaction will surely figure in a final report. Flight depends on an invisible principle of uneven wing pressure with less on the top than the bottom. It is created by the wing’s airfoil, or shape, which speeds more air over the top than the bottom. The principle that where the velocity is greatest, the pressure is least was discovered by Daniel Bernoulli about one hundred years before fight was attained. Incredibly, propellers are miniature wings urging a prop plane forward in similar fashion as the wings keep it up. When ice builds up on wings and propellers, a dual disaster stalks the plane.

In the case of Flight 3407, danger was known. The de-icing rubber bladders on the leading edges of the wings and horizontal tail stabilizers had been activated shortly out of Newark Liberty International Airport. But in an evident conspiracy of misty factors, something went terribly wrong over Clarence, NY on the final approach to Buffalo.

Spiritual lessons abound when one studies aircraft flight.

The plane stays aloft by an invisible principle. Although faith is unseen, its effects are real. Hebrews 11:1 says it is "the evidence of things unseen." Planes stay aloft on moving air. A passenger embarks on air travel having faith trusting this unseen principle.

When Christ explained salvation as the born again experience to inquisitive Nicodemas in John 3:8, He referred to the unseen but very real wind as an example of spiritual rebirth. "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Both air travel and spiritual rebirth demonstrate that belief transcends physical sight.

The guiding work of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is couched in wind terms. The return of ancient Israel to its land in modern times was forecast by Ezekiel. "…‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ " ’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army." (Ezek 37:9-10)

The Holy Spirit’s work in believers’ lives was caught by Edwin Hatch in the hymn "Breath on Me, Breath of God".

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,
till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.

Aircraft also depend upon forward motion to maintain altitude. Slowing below a certain airspeed brings the dreaded stall, which is lethal at low altitude. In the Christian life, failing to "go on to perfection" (Heb. 6:1), which is completion or maturity, can slow our spiritual airspeed and bring us down.

Careful attention is also being paid to whether or not the pilot followed the rules written in the flight manual provided by the manufacturer as well as principles suggested by the FAA. Manual control by turning off the autopilot evidently was prescribed. Only time will tell whether the pilot’s option to do this quite late was within the best options of the flight manual.

Careful study and application of God’s Word gives adequate instructions in righteous living. Psalm 19:7-11 says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward."

In the case of Flight 3407, another spiritual lesson may be learned relevant to the stormy weather that slowly froze ice on the wing, tail and possibly propeller surfaces. This buildup was slow, a droplet at a time. Each drop in itself is not a problem, but when they accumulate unattended, there is danger of a crash as airflow over the wings and control surfaces destroys lift.

Big problems in our lives often develop from a clutter of little issues. The saying, "Little foxes spoil the grapes," is taken from Song of Solomon 2:15. In our Christian lives, any sin needs immediate confession and cleansing lest a buildup of these unconfessed sins bring us down. I John 1:9 indicates that if we recognize and confess what we know is wrong, God grants a blanket policy of forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Years ago I learned that safe flying depends on good attitude and altitude. To get off the ground and climb, the plane has to have a powered upward trajectory. The upward pitch of the craft is called "attitude." And to maintain altitude means keeping the airspeed up. It all comes down to diligent focus on the rules and principles of flight.

Our spiritual journey keeps us looking up and is powered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It’s maintained by forward motion and stays aloft by clean lives lived in faith. Life’s final glide path is the only time we land, taxi to Heaven’s hanger and cut the engines.

Dave Virkler