Pilot - Mechanic

One of my fondest memories with my dad is flying with him into a jungle village where another plane had crashed. We stayed several days while he worked on the aircraft—and I explored the jungle.

For missionary pilots, flying isn’t enough. They also need to know how to repair the very planes they fly. It’s not only about taking off, navigating the skies, and landing safely. It’s also about understanding the inner workings of the machine.

As Christians, we too are “pilots” of God’s Word. We read it, quote verses, affirm its truth, and proclaim its reliability and inerrancy. Yet often we don’t know how it’s put together. We struggle to explain why the Bible is trustworthy, or how to recognize when a teaching twists the text. Without that deeper understanding, almost any podcast, book, or video that references Scripture can sound right—even when it’s not.

This past weekend, as we walked through an overview of biblical theology, I was reminded of times I mishandled Scripture. Moments when I assumed a meaning instead of studying carefully. Times when I didn’t take the time—or use the right tools—to “fix” my understanding according to God’s meaning. By His grace, He is still sovereign over His Word. But I long to handle it more faithfully, for my own soul and for His church.

The verse that led me to seminary continues to shape my prayers for us at RIC:

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

—2 Timothy 2:15

What does “do your best” look like for you? Does it mean setting aside more time to study? To ask questions? To apply God’s Word more carefully?

For me, it still means pressing deeper, even now. My prayer is that we would labor together to handle God’s Word with confidence—like a good pilot who also knows the inner composition of his aircraft. That way, we not only enjoy the truth of the Word, but we also discover the beauty of how God has designed it.

Together in God’s Word,

Pastor Loren