“It was a one-in-a-billion chance, is what a lot of us say, that we’re here today. So we feel like we’re on our second life and we’re 10 years old,”
Barry Leonard, a passenger on Flight 1549 (Source Fox News)
Ten years ago, on January 15th, 2009, Captain Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger performed a near miracle, successfully landing his Airbus A320-214 into the freezing waters of the Hudson River, after his plane’s engines lost power, damaged by an encounter with a flock of geese, minutes after takeoff. Easing the plane onto the surface of the river, the plane successfully landed, rescuing the entire 150 passengers and 5 crew members with no fatalities. It was dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson” and made Captain Sully an instant hero.
Media outlets celebrated the event by interviewing numerous survivors. The quote above by one passenger echoes the sentiment of many who felt they were granted a second life, an opportunity to live differently, to live better.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 (ESV)
Jesus Christ understood that to truly follow God is to be born again. We are broken by sin and no psychotherapy, medications, or good works can ever reconcile the relationship that sin ruptured between God and man. We need to be reborn. It is not a physical rebirth but a spiritual one, through the work of God, the Holy Spirit. Only by confessing and repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior can such a rebirth occur.
Many of the survivors of flight 1549 felt they received a second life and were born again on that fateful day. I received a new life by being born again in Jesus Christ. I pray that God will continue to draw all to Himself to accept His gift of salvation and eternal life. This is what a true second life means.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 