9 Mar, 2010
No More Pretending
Pilot with fake license arrested at airport
(Reuters) - A Swedish pilot with a fake commercial license was arrested in his cockpit at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport as he prepared to fly 101 passengers on a Boeing 737 to Turkey, Dutch police said Wednesday.The 41 year-old Swede, who was at the helm of a jet bound for Ankara, had been flying for 13 years and logged more than 10,000 flight hours using forged documents for airlines in Belgium, Britain and Italy, authorities said.
The pilot, whose name was not disclosed, was said to have expressed relief when confronted and taken off his pilot's stripes.
Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
What does God’s Story scripture teach us about pretending?
Jesus is talking here to the religious people of his day, and he is obviously not happy with them. They are supposed to be the ones who are providing spiritual care for those around them, but they have forgotten this and begun to focus on themselves. They begin to use religion just to make themselves look good, pretending that they have it all together.
We are reminded here that Jesus is not happy with pretenders. People who talk and act religious, while secretly holding onto their old way of life, are confused about who Jesus is and what he is all about. Instead of pretending, Jesus wants us to be open and honest about who we are, first before him, then before others.
How can we connect today’s God Story scripture to our lives?
The liberating message of the gospel is that Jesus offers us not only forgiveness of our sin but also brings us a whole new way of life. What part of your old life have you not yet surrendered to Jesus? Find freedom by releasing it to him today.
Do you find it hard to confess your sin when you mess up spiritually? Does this make you want to cover it up, pretend like you have no struggles? Remember that sin is still a part of our lives, and Jesus desires for us to be honest about it. Following Jesus is not as much about being perfect as much as it is about how we recover when we do mess up.
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
As followers of Jesus, we should be concerned about the spiritual needs of others. Jesus calls us to share his message of love and forgiveness through our words and actions. Ask Jesus to help you take your eyes off yourself in order to reach out to those around you.
One of the biggest steps in leading someone to trust Jesus with their life is assuring them that they can trust you. If you have been dishonest with someone about your life, then make it right today. Your honest vulnerability will have far more impact than your efforts to pretend like you’re perfect and have it all together.
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