Guest Post: Thoughts on a Recent Event in New York

This is a guest post regarding the remarkable "splash-landing" of a U.S. Airways plane in the Hudson River, New York, in January 2009. These thoughts were written down at the time the event happened a little over two years ago.

For news stories about the event, click here.

Since then, both Haiti and Japan have been rocked by major earthquakes, in which thousands of people have died. And the news reports have been filled with references to "Mother Nature" and other such idolatrous and blasphemous nonsense. These were acts of God. The God of the Bible. One reason that the Lord sends calamities, we know from Scripture, is as a warning to the people of the earth to repent of idolatry and rejection of Jehovah, and to turn back to their Maker, to seek refuge in Him as Savior (Deut. 32:39, Jer. 6:19, Jer. 8:1-7,  Jer. 10:10,  Jer. 18:8, Jer. 31:28,  Ps. 77, Ps. 90:3,  Is. 2:11-22,  Lk. 13:4-5, Jn. 12:48).

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. (Psalm 57:1-3)

You don't know if God will spare you in the next catastrophe (James 4:13-15). Repent now (Acts 17:29-31) and believe on His name (Jn. 20:31).

Thoughts on a recent event in New York
by Jeff Amber

1. Many get very religious in times of emergency, but it remains to be seen if it's lasting.
It's been reported that many on the plane were praying audibly "Lord, forgive me for my sins" and some even reciting the Lord's prayer! [Matt. 6:9-13]

2. Note the remarkable capacity the natural man has for perseverence when a common goal needs to be attained. [Eccl. 4:12]
Reports of teamwork were many.

3. Sadly, many deny the God of predestination even at the supposed end, and even declare themselves a predestinarian.
Note the 58-year-old woman who declared, "I'm not supposed to drown." Interestingly enough, she was correct, at least re: that day, which may have solidified her own view of herself. She, in fact, didn't drown! [Prov. 27:1]

4. All of God's creation is at His sovereign disposal, even birds!
This event was apparently due to a flock of birds, who were under God's sovereign command. Reminds one of the cock that crowed. [Mark 14:27-31, 66-72]

5. As with the people of God, worldlings have varying degrees of insight, regardless of age.
Note the woman who said that she had 9 lives due to some narrow escapes previously, but who was corrected by a child who said, "No, only cats do." Both were wrong, but at least the younger one knew that when man dies, he dies once and for all. [Hebrews 9:27]

6. Note man's seemingly unending capacity, thirst, and willingness to deify his fellow creature. [Romans 1:25]
The pilot has been spoken of as a "Saviour," "miracle-worker," and "an angel sent from heaven." A remarkable show of poise and calm in a dire situation with potentially many lives at stake both on the plane and on the ground, yes, but this man is none of the above. Moreover, acts of heroism are performed due to God sovereignly thrusting the person into the situation.

Once again, God is the Initiator and Orchestrator of all that comes to pass.

Blasphemy**

To those who attempt to argue that the common law of England was not Christian, or that the laws which prevailed at the founding of the United States were not Christian, I thought I'd share a few paragraphs from my 1805 copy of Graydon's Justice, under the topic of the civil crime of blasphemy:

1. Whosoever shall wilfully, premeditatedly, and despitefully blaspheme or speak loosely and profanely [in a manner contemptuous of that which is holy] of ALMIGHTY GOD, CHRIST JESUS, the HOLY SPIRIT, or the SCRIPTURES of TRUTH, and is legally convicted thereof, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds, for the use of the poor of the county where such offence shall be comitted or suffer three months imprisonment at hard labor for the use of the said poor.

Speak loosely] To write against christianity in general is an offence punishable at common law: but this is not intended to include disputes between learned men upon particular controverted points. In the case of Woolston, who was convicted on four informations for his blasphemous discourses on the miracles of our SAVIOUR, the sentence of the court was L.25 for each of his four discourses, to suffer a year's imprisonment, and to enter into a recognizance for his good behavior during his life, himself in L.3000 and L.2000 by others.

2. Blasphemy against the ALMIGHTY, by denying his being or providence; or contumelious [insolently rude] reproaches of our SAVIOUR CHRIST; to which also may be referred all profane scoffing at the holy scripture, or exposing it to contempt or ridicule, are offences punishable at common law by fine and imprisonment, or other infamous corporal* punishment; for christianity is part of the laws of England.

* This cannot apply to Pennsylvania at present.

--from William Graydon's The Justices and Constables Assistant, for the District of Pennsylvania, 1805, pp. 53-54



** Updated 6/2/2010 to give a definition of blasphemy. Blasphemy is a hateful, disdainful, contemptuous, disrespectful act, utterance, or writing against our holy LORD God. God will forgive His people of all blasphemies, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be not forgiven (Matthew 12:31-32).