Who is your pilot?

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory (Psalm 73:24).

Imagine that you have boarded a large jet for a lengthy flight. The cabin is filled with people—some excited and noisy, others quiet and alone. You have a comfortable seat and the cabin is at a pleasant temperature. After a smooth departure, your plane quickly climbs above the clouds and levels off. The voice over the intercom assures you that everything is as it should be. Stewards are constantly making sure that you are comfortable and have something to help you pass the time—drinks, food, magazines, or an inflight movie.

The passengers around you are a mixed group. A few are very good-looking and fashionably dressed; most look rather average, and a couple are the kind of people you’d just as soon stay away from. Some chat with each other, others tune everything out while they read, listen to music, or work on a laptop. Every now and then, you hear a baby cry or a voice raised in anger. Over all, however, there is nothing remarkable about your flight. Until you land.

When the plane drops beneath the clouds on final descent, you glance out the window and quickly realize that you’re not where you planned to be. As the aircraft comes to a stop and the door opens, armed men rush the compartment. As fear takes control of the passengers, word quickly spreads that the pilot was working with terrorists—you have all been betrayed and are now hostages. The flight that seemed ordinary and secure was actually a journey into terror, but you had no inkling of the danger you were in.

You might be on such a journey right now. You are flying through life, but do you know where you’ll end up? Who is your pilot? Is it a terrorist who plans to take you hostage when you land? How can you tell? The world outside your window is blanketed with clouds of confusion and uncertainty, which make it hard to see clearly. Look at the people sharing the cabin with you—they look quite ordinary, for the most part. The stewardesses work hard to keep you happy and distracted. The voice from the cockpit assures you that everything is going well. But who is really behind that cabin door, flying your plane? If it’s Satan, he’s taking you towards hell.

Don’t wait until the final descent to find out where you’re going. Make sure that Jesus is your pilot, before your trip through life comes to an unexpected, horrifying end.