A 29 year old ground technician stole a twin engine, 76 seat passenger plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The untrained, inexperienced video-game player single-handedly started the engines, took off and flew the $30 million aircraft over Puget Sound. He performed unbelievable acrobatic maneuvers during his wild 60 minute ride. He eventually crashed the plane into the uninhabited side of an island and was the only casualty.
How could this happen? How was this untrained “gamer” able to fly this complicated aircraft in such a wild manner? The propeller driven plane was designed to safely and comfortably transport passengers and luggage over moderate distances. It was engineered to withstand bad weather and years of use, not perform stunts. The controls were designed for professional pilots, with many hours of training to operate with the aid of checklists and special procedures. It wasn’t made to be taken for that wild ride and it failed or was deliberately flown into the ground. No matter what it was made for, it was “not made for that.”
What about the man who flew the plane? By most standards he had a good job, in a position of trust. He must have been intelligent to be able to train himself to fly that complicated aircraft. He said “I got a lot of people that care about me and it’s going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. ”Family and friends described him as “warm and compassionate” but he called himself “a broken guy, got a few screws loose” and apologized to those he let down. He was troubled and worked very hard to setup a dramatic exit. No matter how broken he was, he was “not made for that.”
We can’t change what that troubled man did with his life, but you still have a chance! You might have problems and need help, but you were made to live forever! “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). You were made for greatness! JESUS said “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12 KJV). How can I do greater works than JESUS? Because JESUS is working with the FATHER, you will do greater works! That is what you were made for!
Wayne Lance (2018)