Great life lessons

3 Life Lessons From a Man Who Survived a Plane Crash

Peter Guirguis Encouragement, Video 1 Comment

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Ric Elias was on a plane leaving New York, and heading to his destination.

That day, he had a special seat on the airplane.

From seat 1D, he could see straight to the flight attendants.

A few minutes after take-off, he heard the words that every airplane passenger dreads to hear.

“Brace for impact,” the pilot said.

As Ric and the passengers got ready for their crash landing, he thought about his life.

He had some regrets, and he promised himself that if he was going to make it through the crash landing, then he would make changes in his life.

Ric did end up surviving the plane crash, and what he learned as a result of his experience is profound.

Watch this five-minute video to see Ric share his story, and to find out what those changes were.

After the video, I share with you some life lessons that every Christian can learn from Ric’s experience.

3 Life Lessons Every Christian Should Learn

1.  Life Lesson #1 – You’re Not Promised Tomorrow

At any second, God can call you to go to your home in heaven (if you have a personal relationship with Christ).

King David says:

[Tweet “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. -Psalm 90:12”]

There’s something about knowing that we can go home to be with the Lord at any time, that should make us live in a way where we want to make every minute count for Christ.

If you knew that you would go to heaven three days from now:

  • How many people would you preach the gospel to?
  • What would you say to your loved ones?
  • How would you spend your money?

2.  Life Lesson #2 – Humble Yourself Before God and Humans

In the video Rick says:

“In my humanity, I allowed my ego to get in…I regretted the time I wasted in things that did not matter with people that mattered.”

Our egos are a terrible thing.

If we’re not careful, they get in the way of our relationships (the people that matter), and they cause a lot of problems.

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:6, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

And Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

That’s why you need to humble yourself before God and people.

When you acknowledge that God deserves all the credit for every success in your life, and that you can’t do anything without Him, then God will lift you up.

[Tweet “Live in such a way so that whatever you do, you do for the glory of God.”]

3.  Life Lesson #3 – Do Everything Unto Christ and Not Unto People

For Ric, his third point was to be the best parent he could be, because that’s what mattered to him the most.

Whether you’re a parent or not, what role in your life do you value the most?

Is it your role as a…

  • Parent
  • Friend
  • Spouse
  • Servant/leader
  • Or, fill in your own role ________

If you want to be the best at whatever role you value the most, then just follow this advice given to us by the Apostle Paul.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

-Colossians 3:23

Before you do anything, think about why you’re doing this thing.  Ask yourself this question:

This thing that I’m doing, am I doing it to please people, or to please God?

life lessons please God

Imagine Your Life Lived on Purpose

Here’s the important question that I’d like you to think about:

What things would you change in your life if you survived a plane crash?

Imagine instead of putting things off for another day, you ceased the moment, and you did the important things that matter right away.

Imagine instead of assuming that the people who matter most in you life know how you feel about them, that you instead tell them that you love them every chance you get.

Imagine instead of letting your ego get in the way, you instead did everything with humility and lowliness of mind.

Imagine instead of doing things to get recognition, you did things unto the Lord, so that He would get the glory for everything.

That’s what it means to live with purpose.

That’s what it means to live by faith.

That’s what it means to life for Christ.

 

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Comments 1

  1. Pingback: 10 Life Lessons Learned from Pastor Steve Mays

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