Winging it: Flights of faith and fancy
SO, JOEY has gone to 'Trislander heaven'. This claim made in the Guernsey Press newspaper (2 July, 2015) raises three important theological questions that have tested scholars through the centuries: What might this heaven be like? Can we be sure we (and Joey) can get there? And will we ever see each other – and Joey – again? Can we believe we shall see Joey fly again? Or does the end mean the end?
The Bible holds a number of visions of heavenly places though none, unfortunately, mentioning Trislanders or indeed aircraft at all. The nearest reference we get to aircraft in the Bible is to 'winged creatures' but could we go as far as saying Joey was always a little angel in disguise? Could heaven really be in the shape of a golden aircraft hangar 'high and lifted up', filled with smoke from aircraft engines, around which little aircraft fly with two wings, or even six? (Isaiah 6)
According to the protestant interpretation of the New Testament, being sure of getting to heaven is a possibility, indeed a living reality, but only through faith in Christ and not through any good work done. Joey's unblemished labour for over 40 years, transporting happy passengers to and from Alderney, would certainly rate high in the eyes of many from a human viewpoint. But does such work have any worth in the sight of God? St James reminds us that 'faith without works is dead'. Christians believe Jesus had to die to mend or restore our broken relationship with God. Surely, if it is only through the good work we do that merits us a passport to heaven, then what point was there in Christ's (sacrificial) death? In the end we must leave it to God to judge ('judge not that ye be not judged'). I would be confident enough say that in God's sight Joey would be welcomed as a 'good and faithful servant', noble-minded in his love for others, and therefore would enter – or rather fly – into God's kingdom.
Will we ever see Joey fly again? At the heart of Christian faith is the belief in resurrection, a renewal of life from death for all who believe in the Lord Jesus and through whom we will participate in and inherit all God's blessings.
St Paul speaks about our receiving a new incorruptible body. As we know Joey's body was wearing thin, the rivets were becoming a bit dodgy and water was seeping between his joints. Hardly a body that was to last – indeed our bodies are not designed to last. As the Book of Job soberly reminds us, 'from dust we have come, to dust we shall return', or in Joey's case, from rust he has come, to rust he shall return. Again, our principal difficulty is that nowhere does the Bible mention planes. However, in the Book of Revelation we are assured all creation will be brought back to God, and there shall be a new heaven and a new earth. Isn't Joey part of that creation? Won't he one day have oil wiped from his leaky engine, one day make perfect landings, one day there be no creaking or rattling or spluttering of propellers?
'Behold', says his Creator, in the great workshop of heaven, 'I make all things new'. That doesn't mean new as in the Dornier aircraft, but new as in Joey himself once again flying high into the blue (or will it be gold?) with a smile on his face. Now that'll be heaven on earth!
'Oh, for the wings of a Trislander'.
REV. GEOFF HAYS.
