On January 15, 2009, US Airway’s flight 1549 took off from La Guardia Airport in New York with 155 persons aboard. The pilot was 58-year-old Captain Chesley Sullenberger, an experienced pilot with nearly 20,000 flight hours logged.
In a very short time, the plane hit a large flock of birds, which disabled both jet engines. The plane was rendered powerless. No one on board expected that within five minutes of takeoff the 80-ton Airbus A320 would have to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River.
The passengers were buckled in and leaning forward in preparation for a crash landing. Some, no doubt, feared that they might die. We are told that some were praying, “Lord, forgive me for my sins.” Their consciences made them feel they were not ready to meet God. Honest prayers certainly reach the ears of a loving God. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Let us hope that they did not forget this concern once they were taken to safety! We should all ask ourselves, “Am I ready to meet the righteous Judge?” The Bible tells us, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). Our own consciences will make us feel that we come short of God’s standard.
By the mercy of the Lord, the pilot skillfully eased the big plane down onto the water. All the people on board survived, with only one (non-fatal) injury. They were all able to climb out onto the wing of the aircraft and were quickly rescued by boats.
After all the passengers had gotten to safety, Captain Sullenberger walked up and down the aisle before he got out to safety. He wanted to be sure all the passengers were safely out of the sinking plane. None were left behind. He wanted to account for them all.
This reminds us that when the Lord Jesus comes He will take all that believe on Him to be with Him in heaven. None will be missing. “The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). None of His redeemed ones will be missing in heaven. All of them will be there.
Will you be there?