It was a typical early June morning. My friend and I had just finished
fueling and a preflight check of the airplane was complete. We were to fly
to Nashville, Tennessee. Everything was going as expected. Takeoff was
normal as well as climb out to our assigned altitude of 3,500 feet on a
southeasterly coarse. It was so clear that day the visibility from this
altitude must have been at least 35 miles. The sky was a beautiful heavenly
blue without a cloud in the sky.

The flight would only take about one hour and fifteen minutes. As we
entered military airspace I radioed the flight controller to tell him who
we were and what our intentions were for transitioning his airspace to
Nashville. We received clearance and a new heading which would take us away
from the military restricted airspace. We were looking out and enjoying the
view that God had presented before us. So few people get to enjoy this view
of what God has created from this perspective.

As we exited the military airspace we were given permission to change radio
frequencies.
We said our good byes to the controller, he wished us a safe flight. We
changed the radio to the common air traffic frequency or C.A.T.F. for
short. After changing to C.A.T.F. we heard something over the radio that I
have never heard in all my years as a private pilot, a distress call.
During our training we had learned how to perform simulated distress calls
and how to contact the right person in the time of a crisis situation.

The normal distress call in the air is "mayday, mayday." But today it would
be the sound of a voice screaming with urgency. I'll never forget those
words that came screaming through my headset. "Help! Help! Somebody help me
I'm lost and low on fuel!" This would be the cry of a fellow aviator in a
dire situation. I turned to my friend sitting next to me and said, "is this
some kind of joke." He was speechless and the look of concern was on his
face. The cry came again over the airways. "Help! Help! Somebody help me
I'm lost and low on fuel!" It was no joke.

The military monitors C.A.T.F. and the controller responded to the
emergency. He asked the pilot who he was and where he thought he might be.
The pilot gave him the tail number of his airplane, which is normal
procedure. Then the lost pilot told the controller he thought he was over
Ashland City power plant. I looked at my friend and he said, "We're over
Ashland City power plant." The smokestacks were clearly visible below there
was no mistaking them as they protrude skyward for more than 600 feet. The
controller asked the pilot to say his altitude. The reply came 3,500 feet.
My friend and I became even more concerned now because that was our exact
altitude. I called the controller and told him we were over Ashland City
power plant also. He gave us a different transponder code so we could be
easily identified on military radar.

The controller replied he had two targets on his radarscope at that
location and one of them was our plane. The controller asked if we would
assist in locating the lost pilot and I radioed back that we would try and
help. We looked around the sky and observed the lost pilot as he passed
over head at least 1,000 feet above us. I radioed the position to the
controller. Thank God the lost pilot was wrong about his altitude.

The lost pilot had seen our plane as we passed under him. He was somewhat
relieved to see another aircraft close by to help if needed. The controller
directed him to a nearby airport only five miles away. Our assistance was
no longer needed. This lost pilot was now found and would refuel at the
nearby airport before returning to his home airport.

I often think about this lost pilot and people in this world that are lost
without Christ in their life. Crying out for somebody to help them. I think
about those who will stand before the Lord when he says, "Depart from me I
never knew you." Matthew 7:23. Can you imagine how horrible that will be?
People will be crying out, "Help! Help! Somebody help me!" But no one will
be able to help. It will be too late for those who rejected Jesus as their
Lord and savior.

There are two kind of pilots in this world, those that have been lost and
those that will be. Just like there are two kinds of people in this world
those that are lost and without Christ and those that have found him. Jesus
said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me." Jesus wants to be your Lord and Savior today.
Won't you open your heart up to him today? Romans 3:23 says, "For all
have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." You can know the Lord
today; there is no other way. Jesus loves you and sacrificed himself for
you that you might have eternal life. John 3:36, "He that believeth on the
Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see
life, but the wrath of God."

The book of Romans 10:9 tells us, "That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." And Romans 10:10, "For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation." You can be found today by accepting Jesus. He will
become your heavenly air traffic controller. He will lead, guide and direct
you until you reach your new home airport, Heaven! You will no longer be
lost. You will be found. It is my prayer for you if you don't know the Lord
Jesus Christ, you will soon. May God bless and keep you.

Inspired by: My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him I give all the Glory
and Praise
By: GLF
Ephesians 2-8:9