Pastor and author Greg Asimakoupoulos shares the following true story.
On a commuter flight from Portland, Maine, to Boston, pilot Henry Dempsey heard an unusual noise near the rear of the small aircraft. Turning the controls over to his copilot, he walked to the back of the plane.
As he reached the tail section, the plane hit an air pocket, and Dempsey was tossed against the rear door. He quickly discovered the source of the mysterious noise. The rear door had not been properly latched prior to takeoff, and it flew open. He was instantly sucked out of the jet.
The co-pilot, seeing the red light that indicated an open door, radioed the nearest airport, requesting permission to make an emergency landing. He reported that the pilot had fallen out of the plane, and he requested a helicopter search of that area of the ocean.
After the plane landed, they found Henry Dempsey—holding onto the outdoor ladder of the aircraft. Somehow he had caught the ladder, held on for ten minutes as the plane flew 200 mph at an altitude of 4,000 feet, and then, at landing, kept his head from hitting the runway. It took airport personnel several minutes to pry Dempsey’s fingers from the ladder.
“Things in life may be turbulent,” writes Asimakoupoulos, “and you may not feel like holding on. But have you considered the alternative?”
Keep holding on! In spite of affliction and poverty, Jesus told the church at Smyrna that they were rich (Revelation 2:8-11) and to Take Heart. Endure! Persevere! Keep moving ahead! Imua for Jesus!
This is the same message Jesus is giving to you and me today. Take Heart! Keep holding on! Persevere! Don’t let all the craziness of Coronavirus trip you up. Don’t let all the political turmoil cause you to stumble and fall. Don’t let financial instability and uncertainty about the future distract and discourage you. Jesus is on the throne and He reigns for ever and ever!
And there is more Good News: When you can’t hold on to Him any longer, Jesus is still holding on to you. The Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. He declares: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). I am so thankful for the glorious security we have in Him!
We will continue our teaching series, Seven Letters to your Church, this Sunday, October 18, with the third letter. Jesus warns the church in Pergamum: Don’t Compromise! (Revelation 2:12-17). Please don’t miss it, and please invite someone to share it with you! Each week has been wonderful. (Come early and be part of Bible Study classes for all ages at 9:30am.)
If you are not able to join us in person at 10:35am for the worship service, then be sure to join us for the Live broadcast on either Facebook or our YouTube channel. It will also be posted later that day at our Website. Please share the online resources with others so they can be encouraged and blessed also.
Mahalo and Aloha ke Akua!