"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7

 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7

Could there possibly be anyone on the planet that’s not aware of the missing aircraft, a Boeing 777 known as Malasia Airlines Flt. 370? I doubt it. Hasn’t it been an interesting news story to follow? I don’t think that I’ve ever seen as many "experts" on airplanes and their systems in my life. It looks like the media is dredging the expert pools for anyone willing to offer an opinion on this situation and finding plenty of them.

So far, even though there’s as many scenarios put forth as to what "might" have happened as there are "experts," at the time of this writing the plane, its occupants and its whereabouts are still unknown. I’m leaning as much to the "alien abduction" theory as any of the many proffered. Just kidding, of course but still, at this point, it’s anybody’s guess as to its fate. And, lacking more definitive information, that’s exactly what they are - guesses.

The facts that we do know, as reported by the media, is that there were 239 people on board the aircraft when it left Kuala Lumpur bound for Peking, China. It’s those occupying the aircraft that make up the gist of my lesson today. As in, what you don’t hear mentioned by the media is a term used by the airlines (military & commercial) and shipping companies too that relates to those on the aircraft and I find it so useful to a spiritual application. That term is "Souls On Board."

There are several opinions as to the origin of that term and they range from the ridiculous to the most probable. It did originate in the maritime, or ship-traveling era and was adapted by the air traffic age. It’s a term used to indicate the "total" number of "living" persons on board the aircraft because it could get confusing at times as to whether you were referring to "passengers" or "crew members" or "infants." Thus, "Souls On Board" includes every "living" person on the airplane.

As I mentioned, I find this term interesting because it can be so conducive to a parabolic-type lesson. IE: using a descriptive term relative to a ship or aircraft disaster that can be "laid alongside" a spiritual connection. Let’s just spend some thought time on this term "Souls On Board" for a few moments.

Without a doubt, the prime example of "Souls On Board" a shipping vessel would be the HMS Titanic that left port in England with about 2228 "Souls On Board" and only 705 of those "Souls" survived the sinking of that great ship in the North Atlantic.

There have been many (too many) aircraft/flying disasters we could use for that category of travel, so we might as well just stick with the current one in the news. At some point along the air route, Flt. 370, with its 239 "Souls" disappeared and its’ whereabouts are unknown. Perhaps, by the time you read this, its’ location will have been determined, but as for now, we don’t know the final outcome of the aircraft, thus we don’t know how many, or even if any, of those "Souls" have perished.

But, even without that information we can still draw a spiritual lesson from this scene. I’ll try to put my thoughts on this event and its relation to our lesson together in this manner. First, while the investigators are researching everything they can find out about every "soul" on the plane as to whether some might have been terrorists, I’m more inclined to think about the condition of the "soul" of those "Souls On Board."

As in, what condition was it in to "return to God who gave it?" (Eccl. 12:7) And, as more time passes, it’s looking more and more likely that they did make that "return." I just wonder whether it will be acceptable by Him?

Or, in keeping with another Biblical metaphor, "garment" (Rev. 3:4), how "clean" will it be? It was perfect and unstained when issued. Would it "return" in that condition? Had it been "washed" in the only Jehovah-approved cleansing agent? (Rev. 1:6)

And also I thought: do you think that any of those "Souls On Board" thought that this would be their last day on earth? I suspect that they’re like most other "souls" on earth in that we don’t go around constantly thinking "This is my last day," do we? But, if one is a "righteous soul," one that has their "garment washed" then they don’t have to worry about it.

Think of it this way - all of us are "Souls On Board" this ship we call earth. At some "appointed day" (Acts 17:31), in some manner, we will depart it. At that time we will cease to be among the "Souls On Board" because we won’t fit the definition - "living." God will retrieve that "soul" we were issued and it will "return" to Him in one of two conditions. Either it will be "righteous" (clean) which equals "saved" or "unrighteous" (dirty) and "lost." I refer you to Ezek. 18 verses 20-22 for a reading on these conditions.

One of the saddest mathematical equations in the Bible (to me anyway) is the one found in Matt. 7:13-14. It’s there that Christ tells us that, of all the "Souls On Board" the earth, "many" will "perish" eternally versus the "few" who will "live" eternally. That’s a ratio that just begets sadness, doesn’t it?

I wouldn’t presume to say that I know how God "feels" about something. Whether He’s sad about that "ratio" or not, but really I don’t have to "presume." He tells us as much in His Word. In 2Pet. 3:9 we see where He is "patient" towards the "Souls On Board" this world. That He’s "not wishing that any" of them perish eternally.

And in Ezek. 18:23 we see God ask the rhetorical question "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?" Then in verse 32 He answers that question: "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God, so turn and live."

Now, as preachers are wont to say, "in conclusion," He knows that all "Souls On Board" the earth will some day, in some manner, leave this temporal life. But, that "soul" does not have to die eternally.

 "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live , he shall not die." (Ezek. 18:21)


Ron Covey