As you may imagine, weather plays a major role in the field of aviation. One writer (also a pilot) said it this way, “Flying is weather, and weather is flying.”

Thunderstorms, obviously, are “bad weather.” Therefore, the solid rule is this: Don’t fly in thunderstorms; fly around them.

You may wonder (and understandably so): From up there, how can you know (or even see) that a thunderstorm is ahead so that you can avoid it? And wouldn’t that be especially hard at night?

Cockpit weather radar is the vital tool that the crew uses to avoid travelling through storms. Like the TV weatherperson’s radar, cockpit weather radar allows the pilot to “see” up to two hundred miles ahead for developing storms. This gives the pilot the option to deviate from the original path (by as much as twenty or thirty miles) and go around the storm.

Reflecting on this storm-avoiding tool that was available to me in the cockpit, I am reminded of God’s wonderful Word, which gives us warnings and cautions and admonishes us to avoid the temptations that might endanger our spiritual walk.

Our God is not mean; He is merciful. Therefore, the warnings in Scripture are there to help us, not to harm us.

• Psalm 119:133, ESV – “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”
• Psalm 19:11, ESV (which speaks of God’s commandments and principles) – “Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

As the pilot uses the cockpit weather radar to avoid destructive weather, we can use God’s Word to help us steer clear of destructive living.

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Joe Henderson, a retired international airline pilot, is lovingly called “Captain Joe” by all who know him well. He currently mentors and teaches future pilots in a local flight school. Captain Joe frequently contributes to this blog via “The Captain’s Corner,” where he intertwines his familiarity with the airline industry with practical biblical lessons.

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