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Always In Need Of An Instructor...

A story is told of a young man who went off to join the air force during World War II. He wanted badly to serve his country as a pilot. He finished boot camp and was on his way to flight training.

As he and his instructor walked towards the airplane for his first flight, the instructor asked, "Do you think you can handle flying?"

The young man with great confidence said, "Yes, I think so. I mastered running farm machinery at a very early age and I've had a spotless driving record since I was sixteen. I don't see that flying an airplane will be any problem for me."

They boarded the old open cockpit biplane and taxied down the runway. Permission for takeoff was granted and the young man was soon in the air for the first time.

The instructor performed several maneuvers, explaining how to accomplish each one. Then, shouting above the roar of the engine he asked, "Are you ready to give it a try?" The self assured young man answered in the affirmative.

It great anticipation the young man wrapped his steady hand around the control lever. The instructor orchestrated a few additional moves so the youth could become accustom to the action of the controls. Then the plane was surrendered to the rookie.

The plane continued in a straight flight pattern and the young man's confidence grew. It was as he had thought, controlling an airplane was as easy as controlling a car. While the youth was basking in his assurance, the instructor slowly unscrewed his own control lever. He held it over the side of the plane. Making sure the young "co pilot" saw it, he dropped it out of sight.

The arrogance~he untes~youth immediately vanished. Audacity turned to fear! Soon the plane was =~ vacillating in every direction as the young man could scarcely manipulate the craft.

The calm instructor turned and told the bewildered youth to return the plane and land. That was all the tenderfoot could take. He became delirious and broke into tears saying, "We're both going to die! I can't fly this plane!"

Nonchalantly, the instructor pulled from under his seat, a replacement lever of his own. Putting it in place he headed the craft towards the run way and completed a faultless landing.

As the young man's quivering legs touched the welcomed ground, the instructor patted him on the back and said, "Now that you realize your need for an instructor we'll get along fine."

I wonder how many of us imitate this audacious young man. Do we grab the control stick of life trusting in our own abilities...our own answers...our own strength? I wonder if our God would not humble us as the tested instructor did the young man? Could it be that we have forgotten our need for the "Instructor?"

The weeping prophet, Jeremiah said, "I know, O Lord, that a man's way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O Lord..." (Jer. 10:23 24). We all, like the young man, stand in need of correction and instruction. We don't know how to fly through the skies of life!

In I Timothy 3:16 17 Paul writes, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." The point is clear. Today I, like you, receive "training" from The Instructor through His instruction manual! The principles and power of the Bible are to be the "control lever" of my life. We are an assembled group of trainees who struggle to let God be their pilot.

Dan Fraiser