Distracted

By David A. Sargent

In August of 2011, a LifeNet helicopter crashed in a pasture near Mosby, Missouri, within sight of and only a mile from the intended destination. The pilot and three passengers – a patient and two medical personnel – were killed instantly.     Federal safety officials announced this week that the pilot was at fault. Specifically, they said the fatal crash was due to fatigue, lack of training, and… distracted texting!     Mike Ahlers of CNN reports that safety officials discovered in an investigation that the pilot “sent several text messages with one hand while flying the helicopter with the other....     But those text messages in the air – which ended 19 minutes before the crash – turned out to be less consequential than text messages he sent and received while on the ground. Investigators believe [the pilot] engaged in an extensive text conversation with a colleague about dinner plans while he was conducting mandatory pre-flight checks of his helicopter. Because of those distractions, [he] missed two opportunities to detect that his helicopter did not have sufficient fuel for his mission.”     After picking up the patient at a hospital, the pilot apparently took off after miscalculating that he could reach his destination. He was fatally wrong.*     Distractions can cause many problems in our lives; they can even cause us to miss out on a saving relationship with the Creator!     In the Parable of the Sower (see Mark 4:1-20), Jesus described FOUR different types of soils that represent the hearts of people and how receptive these hearts are to the Word of God. One of the soils He described was the “thorny soil” (v. 7). He later explained the hearts represented by this type of soil: “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and CHOKE the word, making it unfruitful” (vs. 18-19).     Jesus was warning that some hearts are TOO DISTRACTED to receive the Word into their hearts, obey it, and be saved.     In the same parable, Jesus taught that those whose hearts are like “good soil” are those who “HEAR the Word, RECEIVE it, and BEAR fruit” (v. 20).     Those who are not distracted are able to understand the Good News (the Gospel) that God sent His Son into the world to pay the price for our sins (John 3:16; Eph 1:7).     “GOOD HEARTS” will also understand that in order to receive the benefits of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, one must place his faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then, as one continues to walk in the light of His Word, the blood of Jesus – that was shed for our salvation (Matthew 26:28) – will continue to cleanse one from sin (1 John 1:7).     Don’t let "distractions" keep you from reaching the heavenly destination that God desires for you (see John 14:1-6).     Study His Word with an open and honest heart, learn of God’s “unspeakable Gift” – the GIFT of His Son, and accept His salvation on His terms.     Won’t YOU?   - David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org * Information gleaned from “Pilot Texting a Factor in Deadly Copter Crash” by Mike M. Ahlers of CNN (4/10/13).