Under the Hood

November 20, 2009

By Jerry Scott

When I was 18 I earned my pilot’s license. Part of my instruction in flying was something called “being under the hood.” My instructor would hand me this strange-looking plastic device that went on my head like a cap with an extended tube on the front — “the hood!” It restricted my vision to the instrument panel of the little Cessna 150.

“You can fly this plane as long as the fuel lasts with those instruments,” the instructor said each time.

A pattern of scanning those dials and indicators allowed me to maintain speed, keep the wings level, and control rates of climb or descent without seeing anything outside of the little cockpit of the airplane.

“Jerry, let’s make a turn to heading 270 while descending to 3,000 feet,” my instructor would say.

With a view of the horizon, it was easier; but weather could develop that would take away those reference points. Then I would have to fly by instruments. Being “under the hood” prepared me for that possibility and taught me to keep my eyes on those critical gauges.

Circumstances of life can and do, from time to time, take away the reference points that keep us on course. Pain, discouragement, criticism, conflict, doubt, fear — and more — move in like a bank of fog, and we are threatened with loss of our sense of purpose and/or direction, in grave peril of crashing. Many people self-destruct when things get tough. Instead of maintaining their course, they make the choice to “trust their gut,” to live by their emotions. The choices they make when they cannot see ahead or around may not be the right or best choices. In such moments, we must trust God and do what’s right even if we can’t see the way.

The Word reminds us that even when we are enveloped in darkness we must live by faith, doing the right things. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8,9, NIV).

When we’re attacked, our gut will tell us to strike back. God’s guidance tells us to turn the other cheek. When we are afraid, our instinct will be to turn back. God’s will is for us to maintain our course. All the while, we monitor our decisions by measuring against His unchanging Word. It is loving? Is it honest? Is it pure? Is it of noble character, something I will be able to own in the light of day that others can certainly follow?

Steady on, disciple, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV).

 — Jerry D. Scott is senior pastor at Washington (N.J.) Assembly of God.