Consequences of Spiritual Disorientation

For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (Rom. 2:8)

Expanded Passage: Romans 2:8-10

Late in the evening on July 16, 1999, a Piper Saratoga aircraft piloted by John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, nose first, off Martha’s Vineyard. He, his wife, and sister-in-law were on their way to a cousin’s wedding. All three perished. Initially, the search and rescue personnel were optimistic that Kennedy and his passengers might have survived, but hope waned after pieces of the aircraft were recovered in the ocean. Investigators from the National Safety Transportation Board eventually determined the crash occurred because weather conditions and the darkness of the night obscured visual landmarks, creating a phenomenon called spatial disorientation. Spatial disorientation causes pilots to lose track of where they are, for example, whether the aircraft is nose up or down. Mr. Kennedy had been certified to fly under visual fly rules only. He lacked certifications that would have kept him oriented when flight conditions deteriorated. He became disoriented. The consequences were catastrophic, fatal.

God has provided truth as a compass, which provides moral and spiritual orientation. The lifestyle of the self-absorbed person who deliberately rejects the guidance and guardrails of truth sets himself or herself up for harsh outcomes.

Mercifully, through his Word, the life of Jesus, and the witness of the Spirit, God orients us to truth in such a way that those who respect and abide by it have little to fear.

Check your spiritual compass and assess whether you’re flying disoriented.

Ed Rotz has served The Wesleyan Church as a pastor and district superintendent. He currently works for PastorServe, Inc. and lives in Topeka, Kansas with his wife, Sharon.