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Seven Lessons from the SIA Crash
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 10.30am service, 5 Nov 2000 )
Text : "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matt 10:28 -31).
The SIA flight SQ006 crash in Taipei during last week with 82 dead after a safety record of 28 years is a national disaster for all Singaporeans. Our humble prayers go to the bereaved families, and many thanks to God for the survivors. Straits Times comments, "The accident was as much a miracle as it was a tragedy that there were at least 99 survivors, many with minor injuries in such a crash."
On behalf of Christians, we bow before the Father Almighty, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not" (Lam 3:22 ). A greater calamity could have happened, but by His mercies the plane was half full.
That so many have been saved was due to the splitting of the plane into three parts. This also was a miracle. So many air crashes we read about resulted in total loss of life. Three years ago Silkair plunged out of the blue into the muddy waters off Palembang with no trace of life from all the 106 on board. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed," this time.
What are the lessons that we must learn from this disaster?
First, that SIA has maintained a safety record is by painstaking human effort to provide the best flying machines and pilots. Our planes are the most youthful planes and our pilots are of the best. Solomon says, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong . . . nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all" (Eccl 9:11). While human effort is essential to success there is the need of God's favour on our exploits. Let SIA look also to God Almighty for without Him we can do nothing. We Christians must plead for our national airline inasmuch as we pray for our Government (I Tim 2:2).
Second, in view of almost all Singaporeans flying around, this SIA disaster comes to us with greater impact than ever. But there are two types of flyers insofar as their safety is concerned. There are the non-Christians, many of them bound to a blind Fate. Whether this Fate is good or bad is expressed in saying, "Good luck or bad luck." Bad luck leads to death and death is what they try best to avoid. This is only half the story. Beyond death, which the heathens or unbelievers do not know, there is judgment, leading to a second death. To fear death is not enough. This is what our Lord means when He says, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body"—that is God the Judge.
We Christians have the question of death fully settled by coming to the Saviour. For we have life everlasting and are delivered from death and hell. Should we be burnt in the SIA crash we know God will deliver our souls. We will go to heaven and not to hell. So we don't sorrow as those outside Christ. In the Silkair disaster three years ago, there were three Christian teachers from Fairfield Girls' School. Their loved ones did not mourn like the Christless, but with hope and trust in the Saviour, they were able to comfort the non-Christians. The question I must ask someone in this congregation who comes to Church wearily, is, "Are you saved?" If not, you are always afraid to go in the air. A true, born again Christian takes to the air with full confidence in the Father Almighty.
Third, many non-Christians will ask the fortune-teller for a good day to travel. A Christian, having committed himself to the Lord in prayer flies according to schedule. A Christian on an errand for the Lord, e.g. a pastor having a preaching appointment in order to make it, may fly early Sunday morning to preach in K.L. in the afternoon. If he is to join a tour he should worship first on Sunday morning before he leaves in the evening. By worshipping the Lord first he also prays for safety. Will not the Lord hear him? It is our custom when going on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to summon Pilgrims to a special prayer meeting, Tuesday night, nearest to setting out. God has mercifully answered our prayers to give us a safety record for the past nine Pilgrimages. We believe the Lord will also keep us safe in our 10th Pilgrimage, 2001.
Fourth, a non-Christian much more than a Christian, buys travel insurance. For me my insurance is in the Lord. But when I return safely I give a thankoffering for arriving home at last. So many times we pray before starting out but we forget to give thanks when coming in.
Fifth, when travelling abroad, seek a Church where you may worship on Sunday. If not, worship with your group, and take an offering for some worthy cause. E.g. we usually conduct a two week pilgrimage to the Holy Land . We try to worship two Sundays at Baraka B-P Church , or at least once, and we give generously to the Conference Centre or some charitable work. At Baraka Centre where we can worship freely we have it every night.
Sixth, "Do something good wherever you go." Helping out a fellow traveller in handling his or her luggage is a sweet practical gesture. By your timely action, you may win a soul thereby. Being a senior citizen I often get helped. How touched my heart is by a good neighbour to be sure.
Seventh, the Lord says no sparrow can fall without the Father's will. Does this mean that the SIA crash happened with God's permission? Yes, it did. But here comes in the mysterious outworking of His decretive will. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28 ). Even if those whom He loves are killed in the accident, they must submit to the Father's higher will. This happened to my wife, daughter and aunt 35 years ago while travelling to Cameron Highlands . They were taken away in a flash. To this day I can only say, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21 ).
May the seven points I have raised serve as a guide to you, frequent Singapore flyers. Amen.
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