Will We Land Safely?

Godwin Thomas, Thane

Tragedy struck on June 12, 2025, when an Air India flight carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members crashed into a building in Ahmedabad less than a minute after take-off. The accident claimed the lives of 241 on board and 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived. In a matter of seconds, life for the victims and their families came crashing down. Death had once again reminded us of its imminent and unpredictable nature.

Just a few weeks later, our family was scheduled to travel on an airline. After boarding the flight, my 10-year-old son asked, “Dadda, will we land safely?” Behind his words was the fear of death—real, sudden, and unavoidable. And I realized that all of us, at some point, wrestle with this question.

The Bible calls death as an “enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26). It grips everyone—young and old, rich and poor—without exception. It brings fear and sorrow as we lose our loved ones to its sting.

But why does death exist at all? Humanity has always been perplexed by questions about life, longevity, and what lies beyond the grave. God, however, provides the answer. Romans 3:23 declares, “All have sinned.” Each of us has fallen short of God’s perfect standard—whether in thought, word, or deed. Our sins, whether hidden or open, lie bare before a Holy God. Sin broke humanity’s relationship with its Creator, and as a consequence, death entered the world. As Romans 6:23 reminds us, “The wages of sin is death.”

The question, “Will we land safely?”, echoes the deeper human fear: can we escape the certainty of death? Left to ourselves, the answer would be no. But God never intended for His creation to perish without hope. Out of love, He made a way.

God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Though He was fully God, He humbled Himself, taking on human flesh. He lived among us, performing miracles, healing the sick, raising the dead, and preaching the Kingdom of God. Yet unlike us, He was without sin. The Bible records that He did no sin, in Him was no sin, and He knew no sin.

Justice demanded that sin be punished, and the penalty was death. But because all humanity is sinful, no one could pay the price for another. Only a sinless substitute could take our place. Jesus Christ, being sinless, bore the sins of the world on the cross. He died as our substitute, was buried, and on the third day rose victorious over sin and death. Angels proclaimed, “He is risen.” His disciples witnessed the risen Lord and His ascension to heaven, and history was forever changed.

Today, Jesus Christ is alive, and the Scripture promises that He will return to judge the world. To all who confess their sins and accept Him as Lord and Savior, He offers forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. The broken relationship with God is restored through Christ’s finished work on the cross.

So, to answer the question, “Will we land safely?” Yes—we will, if our faith rests in Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation. Death remains imminent and unpredictable, but for the one who believes on Jesus Christ, it is no longer final, because, one day, we will all rise from the dead and the ones alive will be caught up to be with Jesus Christ, while death itself will be swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:51–54)

Dear reader, you too can land safely on the other shore—if you put your trust in Jesus Christ, who conquered death and offers eternal life.