On Final Approach

 

I

 remember the first time I ever saw an airplane land.  My dad took me to Charlotte to Douglas Airport. We went upstairs and out onto the observation deck to watch the planes land and take off.  It was dark and I remember seeing the flashing lights on the backs and bellies of the planes as they taxied down the runway to assume their positions for takeoff.   

 

We stayed there for quite some time, just watching the planes line up and take off down the runway, leaping into the air just before the tarmac ran out of pavement.  As beautiful as the takeoffs were, however, nothing could beat the sight of a huge plane lining up with the runway, coming in at terrific speed, and gently setting down on the concrete pavement.  It seemed surreal but I loved watching those planes as they gingerly touched down and approached their gates to deliver their passengers. 

 

I imagined what it would be like to be the captain of one of those planes on final approach to the airport. I could see all the dials in the cockpit, I could hear all the radio traffic between the plane and the tower, and I could hear the conversation between the members of the crew as they readied the plane for landing.  When all the dials were in the right positions, when the tower gave the captain clearance, and when all the instruments had been tested, the pilot would take the controls and guide the plane downward, landing it safely on the ground below. 

 

One thing was sure.  The pilot only got one chance at his final approach, so he had to know that his plane was in good shape, that his crew was ready for the landing, and that he was comfortable with the task ahead of him.  These conditions were mirrored thousands of years earlier by a young man who made a final approach of his own.  He did a pre-landing check of his equipment, and when he was comfortable with the situation at hand, he made his approach and what a landing he had! 

 

The young man’s name was David. You know him as Israel’s greatest king and the

 young man responsible for bringing Goliath to his knees—literally!  We are currently studying David on Wednesday nights at our church, learning from him the importance of maintaining a close, personal relationship with God.  It is in the middle of David’s confrontation with Goliath that we find our Tidbit for today.  It comes from a very obscure statement in the story, one that we probably have never noticed before; but this one statement holds a great truth for us today. 

 

1 Samuel 17:40 simply reads, “Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.”  This is David’s checklist as he prepared for his encounter with Goliath.  Just before this passage, King Saul had dressed David in his own armor. David, however, was a shepherd and was unaccustomed to the accoutrements of war.  He could not walk around in Saul’s armor because it was too heavy and too cumbersome.  So, David removed the armor and began to inventory his own instruments. 

 

He checked his maneuvering yoke (he took his staff in his hand).  He made sure he had ample fuel for his approach (he chose five smooth stones).  David made sure that his directional gear was working so that he could land right where he wanted (with his sling in his hand).  Finally, when all systems were go, when David was satisfied that everything was in working order, and when he felt comfortable with the task at hand, “he approached the Philistine.” 

 

I can just hear David now as he calls the tower, “This is David.  I’m coming in low on final approach and I’m taking no prisoners!”  That is exactly what he did.  Goliath had been taunting Israel for 40 days, pleading with them to fight.  Israel, much to her chagrin, would not engage the Philistine army.  But David, Pilot, Junior Class, knew that with God’s help, he could make a solid landing.  He gathered his tools, placed his faith in God, and approached the Philistine! 

 

What a picture of faith and confidence this is.  This is how we are to face the difficulties and the Goliaths life and the enemy place in our way.  We are to check our instruments, get clearance from the tower, set our course, and then make our final approach.  We are not to fly around, we are not to circle, and we are not to ask for alternate routes.  We are to land that plane; and land it we can. 

 

 Whatever you may be facing today, it is my prayer that you will place your confidence in God, that you will trust and obey Him, and that you will make your final approach.  Do not go in your own strength or in your own plans.  Go in the strength God gives you, relying on His provision and His guidance to see you safely through any of life’s challenges.  Are you on final approach today?  Don’t you think you should be?