Is God Your Co-Pilot?
I don’t know when they first started popping up. I have seen them all of my life and that goes all the way back into the 1970′s.
It’s those God Is My Co-Pilot bumper stickers and license plates.
It seems like a nice sentiment, doesn’t it? God is riding right there beside you while you fly the plane.
So, why don’t I like it?
I guess I would ask that with a couple of questions. What does it say about how you view God?
Does it say that you think you are captain of your own life, with God sitting in the seat beside you ready to take over if you falter?
Is that a Biblical view of God?
It makes me think that many people think that God is a grandfatherly type of god who is just sitting in a rocking chair smiling and happy for you to come see him.
No, that isn’t the kind of God I want.
I want one who is the Pilot of my life. I want Him flying the plane. I’ll sit in the seat beside Him. I’ll push the buttons He wants me to push. I’ll be the flight attendant. I’ll take whatever role He wants me to take.
I just don’t expect it to be the Pilot.
How about you? Is God your co-pilot? Or is He the pilot?
God is my co-pilot – Is a book written by Robert Scott during WWiI. My parents had a copy in our house when I was growing up in the 40′s.
Though, like you, I would like God to be the pilot of my life, He doesn’t. He gave us free will so we would grow learning from our mistakes. We are sinners save by His grace. No matter how hard we try, we sin and He is there to guide us back to the right path and forgive our transgressions. But, in my life I have learned to listen very closely to what He has to say and found it a lot easier to stay on the right path. I still slip once in a while, but He is always there to remind me and guide me back.
So, even though you don’t want to be the pilot, you are and He is there to help you stay on the right path.
Walk daily with God at your side!
Ed
I have a different take on free will. I don’t disagree with us having it from a human perspective. We certainly make choices. However, whatever choices we make lands us exactly where God wants us and achieves God’s purposes. So He may let me fly the plane, but I end up going exactly where He wants me to go.
That’s where I was pointing. As we gain perspective and put l our trust in God, we hardly vary from His path.
I’ve always said that I started to veer off course in my life when I got in the driver’s seat and threw God in the back. God doesn’t like to be in the back seat. After crashing several times, I finally got out of the driver’s seat.
IMO, even when we think we’re driving, He is. Think the story of Joseph. His bothers meant it for evil, God meant it for good. Best example are all of those thinking they’re driving by putting Christ on the cross. Pursue Him and keep going.
I chose pilot because I see what happens when I try and fly the plane. It’s never good.
I remember that book Ed was talking about. My grandfather had a copy in his house. I started trying to read it a time or two but never could get into it. Suspect it was my age. IMy trouble with that phrase is like Eileen expressed. I keep wanting in the driver’s seat. But I also understand your point (and Ed’s). i still don’t care for it though, so I won’t use it or have a plate or sticker on my car.