Spiritual Sword: The Slaves of Sin V56 No 3

LIFE IS FRAGILE

The television news has been saturated with stories about the tragic air collision that occurred on Wednesday evening, January 29, near Reagan Airport in Washington, D. C.
American Airlines Flight #5342 had apparently enjoyed an uneventful flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D. C. and was on its final approach before landing when it was struck in mid-air by a military Black Hawk helicopter which was on training exercises. Thirty seconds before the collision, the Air Traffic Controller asked the helicopter pilot if he saw the passenger plane, and he replied that he did. It is not known if he saw a different plane or if his vision was obscured in some way. All 60 passengers aboard the plane along with four crew members were killed as well as the three soldiers in the helicopter. Sixty-seven people, including children, lost their lives in this horrible event,
marking the worse air disaster in the United States in twenty-four years.

The passengers were almost at their destination. There was nothing unusual about their landing protocol. Many were probably reaching for their coats and other belongings as
they anticipated deplaning at their gate. But it was not to be, as both the helicopter and the passenger plane crashed into the cold murky waters of the Potomac River, without a
single survivor. 

One cannot help but think of the words of James in the New Testament: “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). One can think of the steam kettle on the stove with steam arising out of the spout for a few inches, and then it is gone. James reminds us that our lives are like that. Even if we live a full life, the time is short. Many do not grow to old age. No one has the promise of tomorrow. “Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am” (Ps. 39:4). 

Considering the brevity of life, the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the future, it behooves every one of us to prepare for what lies ahead. How foolish is the man who gives no thought to life beyond the grave! Let us live our lives to the fullest measure, but also let us make preparation for the judgment which is to come (Heb. 9:27).

EDITORIAL Enslaved to Sin Alan E. Highers
When Does a Person Begin? .........................................Wayne Jackson
Abortion or Adoption? ...............................................Gary C. Hampton
Why Abortion Is Wrong......................................................Allen Webster
Sodom and Gomorrah ..................................................Wayne Lankford
Bible Verses Against Homosexuality ...................Steve Higginbotham
Did Jesus Teach Against Homosexuality?...............................Bill Boyd
What Is Wrong with Gay Marriage? ..................................Phil Sanders
Gender Identity....................................................................Justin Rogers
The Curse of Pornography..................................................Mike Hixson
Marriage Is Honorable ........................................................Glenn Colley
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart ............................................Hiram Kemp