Would you please open your bibles to Mark 10? This is where we will start. But first, let me introduce you to our subject for today.
Robert L. Scott was a fighter pilot back in World War II. But, at the start of the war, he piloted transport planes that delivered freight over The Hump into China. As the war continued, the need for qualified pilots grew and Scott eventually got his opportunity to be a fighter pilot.
In China, he persuaded General Chennault to let him fly with the famed Flying Tigers, the heroic band of airmen who had been fighting the Japanese long before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Getting his chance to fight, Scott ultimately engages the deadly Japanese pilot known as Tokyo Joe in combat and defeats him.
He later wrote the book, God is My Co-Pilot, which detailed the events of his confrontation with Tokyo Joe. He wanted the world to know that God “sat next to him” on every single flight – that God was his co-pilot.
My Father served in the Korean War (1950-53) and, like many veterans of his era, Scott’s story resonated with him so much so that he purchased a “God is My Co-Pilot” vanity plate for his car. A few years ago the Lord began showing me how this concept – God is my co-pilot – is playing out in the Church in a non-scriptural and rebellious way.
What does it mean to be a co-pilot?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a pilot as someone who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft; a guide or leader. A co-pilot is defined as a qualified pilot who assists or relieves the pilot – and this is the most important part – but is not in command. Let me repeat that: the co-pilot is not in command. The co-pilot follows the orders he receives from the pilot. Knowledge, experience and expertise are the markers that distinguish the pilot from the co-pilot.
In order for a flight to reach its desired destination, the pilot needs both a flight plan and a detailed knowledge and understanding of the flight manual.
Flight plans are documents the pilot or flight dispatcher are required to file prior to the aircraft’s departure that outlines the aircraft’s planned flight path. Did you notice that the co-pilot is not involved in filing this required document? This is important ladies and gentlemen and you will see this as we continue the message.
Flight plans also include departure and arrival points, the number of passengers on the aircraft and their names, alternate airports in case of bad weather and an estimated time of arrival. All of this makes it easier to provide assistance to the aircraft in case of an emergency or to locate it in case of an unexpected landing or crash.
Each aircraft has a flight manual. The flight manual contains the information required to safely operate the aircraft and is TAILORED FOR EACH SPECIFIC AIRCRAFT. It contains operating limitations for normal, abnormal and emergency situations. Please keep this in mind as we continue with the message.
Now, the flight plan – think of it as the “map” to get the aircraft from point A to point B. Think of the flight manual as the book you must know “backwards and forwards” (an American idiom describing “a thorough, complete and detailed understanding) to get the aircraft to point B safely.
With this in mind …
? If my pilot does not know the flight plan for my flight, would I get on the plane?
? If my pilot never read the flight manual, would I trust him or her to know what to do in an emergency situation?
? If my co-pilot is smarter than my pilot, who would I want “calling the shots” (an American idiom describing the person in charge) on my flight?
? If my co-pilot wrote the flight manual, who would I listen to if trouble occurs on my flight?
Based on Webster’s definitions of pilot and co-pilot – the pilot is the person in charged and the co-pilot is the assistant – if God is my co-pilot, that means I have more knowledge, experience and expertise to deal with the things in life than He does.
? If God is my co-pilot, that means Barry decides what is morally right and morally wrong for his life.
? If God is my co-pilot, that means Barry decides what he can and cannot do with his life.
? If God is my co-pilot, that means He assists me when I allow Him to.
? If God is my co-pilot, when it comes to what Barry believes, that means He doesn’t decide that – Barry does.
Ladies and gentlemen, when we look at the Body of Christ, it’s not too difficult to figure out who the pilot is and who the co-pilot is, is it?
This is the first message in a new series that asks the question: “Is God your co-pilot?” We’re going to examine what many Christians, who are the pilots in their own lives, have said about issues that have a direct bearing on scripture and compare them to what God, the co-pilot, has said about these same issues in His “flight manual,” the Bible.
And I’ll give you a hint right now ladies and gentlemen – sadly, we are going to see that the co-pilot is not in agreement on several of the “flight plans” that the pilot has filed.
Now, the statements that I will use in this series to identify what many Christians have said about a topic will be statements that I have heard over the years and continue to hear today.
The first topic we’re going to examine is Same-sex unions.
Notice I said same-sex unions and not same-sex marriage. Ladies and gentlemen, you won’t hear me use same-sex marriage when talking about male and male unions or female and female unions. And my reasons are really simple – but scriptural. The Bible does not allow for such unions to be called “marriages.”
The Bible is clear – “marriage” is “marriage” only when it involves the union of a biological male and a biological female. A union that does not follow this model is not only not recognized by God, but is an abomination to Him. So, ladies and gentlemen, you can see where this series is going right out of the gate, can’t you?
Over the years, I have heard Christians, who are the pilots of their own lives, say “The loving God that I believe in would never condemn anyone for loving someone of the same sex and marrying that person.”
And I want you to notice something that you will hear over and over in this series – “The loving God I BELIEVE IN.” When Christian add the qualifier, “I believe in,” they are clearly drawing the line in the sand as to who is the standard, the measuring stick, in their lives when it comes to determining moral truths.
We know what the pilot, the Christian, said. Now what does God, the Christian’s co-pilot, say in the “flight manual,” the Bible, about same sex unions? And this will be the presentation throughout this series – what the pilot has said compared with what the co-pilot has said in His flight manual, the Bible.
Now, let’s see from scripture what God, the co-pilot, has to say about same sex unions.
Turn with me to Mark 10. We’re going to read the first nine verses.
(1) And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again, and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
(2) And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
Let’s stop here for a moment. What is the focal point of this passage? The religious leaders are confronting Jesus about his views concerning divorce. That’s what the phrase “put away his wife” is referring to. So we see, based on what the religious leaders asked Jesus, that divorce is between a man and his wife.
Now I want to be extremely clear about something. In male and male unions as in female and female unions, one person “takes on the role of the male and the other takes on the role of the female.” Just because they make such distinctions does not make the union a marriage. Are you following me? Let’s continue.
(3) And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
I want you to see what Jesus does. He brings the question back to what God has already said about divorce. “What does Moses say in Law?” Now catch this: Jesus is already telling the religious leaders that He is not going to disagree with what Moses has said in the Law. Let’s continue.
(4) And they said, Moses suffered (permitted us) to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
Notice Moses permitted a man to divorce his wife. In other words, divorce –one flesh once again becoming two – was never God’s intention and Jesus’ response points to something that’s very important ladies and gentlemen. The way a Christian responds to what God has said in the Bible is a heart issue. If our hearts, what we desire most, are not in agreement with what God has said and what He desires most, then we are going to look for ways around it – just like the religious leaders.
So, let’s see Jesus’ direct, in your face, response to the religious leaders as to why Moses permitted a man to divorce his wife.
(5) And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
“Moses,” Jesus said, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because their was no love in your heart for your wives. And since there was no love for your wives, he knew that you would eventually find a way to get rid of her and leave her destitute.”
(6) But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
(7) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
(8) And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
(9) What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. (Mark 10:1-9)
Later on, you may want to read Matthew 19:1-6, which covers the same topic.
In verse 6, Jesus says God made two distinct and complementary humans – one male and one female. And in verse 7 we see that, from the beginning, the male and female are husband and wife. Scripture does not allow for any other marital bond. Period.
Turn with me to Genesis 1. We’re going to read verse 27. And then we’re going to turn to Genesis 5, where we will read verses one and two.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27)
1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. (Genesis 5:1-2)
God blesses the male and female, the husband and wife, when they join together in marriage. No other “marital-type” union is blessed by God. Now, based on what we’ve seen so far, we know that God’s design for male and female relationships.
But, what we read in Genesis about God’s design for male and female relationships can also be seen in His design for relationships among animals. God’s instructions to Noah concerning the animals to be housed on the ark is example number one.
“Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and HIS female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and HIS female.” (Genesis 7:2)
I hope you really see what this scripture says. The clean beasts and the unclean beasts that God sent to Noah were “husband and wife,” otherwise why would scripture say “the male and his female?” God sent them to Noah for the purpose of procreation after the flood. Do you see this?
One last thing: why did God want the husband and wife to become one flesh? To enjoy pleasure? For sure! But it goes much deeper than that.
“And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? [Now here’s the reason] That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.” (Malachi 2:15)
Now let’s read Malachi 2:15 in the Amplified Bible.
“And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God make you two] one? Because He sought a godly offspring [from your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth.”
Male and male cannot join together, become one flesh and produce offspring. Wrong biology. Female and female cannot join together, become one flesh and produce offspring. Wrong biology. The family unit was designed by God to be a man, a woman, and godly children who would be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
But let’s be clear:
God is not the One who condemns the men and women who choose to engage in homosexuality. Yes, God has passed judgment on the lifestyle, but the people are not judged until they choose to engage in that lifestyle. That’s when they are condemned. If they never repent, they will burn in the lake of fire for all eternity.
How do I know this? There are too many scriptures that condemn homosexuality as a way of life for those who choose to live this way not to know that they are living contrary to God’s holy standard. Remember, the Bible tells us that those who choose to live this way know they are not living by God’s holy standards.
Turn with me to Romans 1, where we that those engaging in this lifestyle are doing so knowing what the Bible says. This will be our last passage.
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
(19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. How did God show them? Through His Word, the Bible.
Every person who is engaged in homosexual behavior knows that God is against it. Every single person.
So, let’s end this first message with the elephant in the room – “Does the co-pilot agree with the pilot who says ‘The loving God I believe in would never condemn anyone for loving someone of the same sex and marrying that person?’”
The co-pilot’s “flight manual” is clear. The person who chooses to a homosexual lifestyle is ignoring what the flight manual clearly says and is choosing condemnation – judgment for rejecting what it says – and will burn for an eternity in the lake of fire.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are Christians who believe the Bible has nothing definitively to say about same-sex unions. I pray that this message has shown you that such a belief is not true. I also pray that this message has blessed you and will enable you to share the truth of the gospel concerning this issue. Knowing the truth and sharing this truth could be the difference in a person burning forever in the lake of fire.
Ladies and gentlemen, if we are not willing to accept what Scripture says, then we are going to maintain control of the aircraft – our lives – while the co-pilot screams “You are crashing! You are crashing!” And if our lives crash and we have not relinquished control to the co-pilot, we could face an eternity that does not include the co-pilot.
The co-pilot says “Every way of man if right in his own eyes …” (Proverbs 21:2a) If the pilot doesn’t agree, her life is going to crash and she could possibly burn forever in the lake of fire.
The co-pilot says “There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25) If the pilot doesn’t agree, his life is going to crash and he could possibly burn forever in the lake of fire.
Have you filed a flight plan for your life? Have you fully read the flight manual?
Your co-pilot has a flight plan for your life and He wrote the flight manual to help you navigate that life!
So, could it be that the co-pilot really, really wants us to give up our seats now so that He can give us a flight plan that will enable us to live with Him forever later?
Until next time.
