If God is Your Co-Pilot, Swap Seats!

“If the Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise,” on Sunday morning, we are going to talk about 10 examples of “one-liners” about God. One of them was in the previous sentence—I’m sure you can figure out what it was. The one that serves as the title for this article is where I want to focus- “If God is Your Co-Pilot, Swap Seats!”  According to Google, this one-liner began with a book entitled “God is My Co-Pilot,’ an autobiography of Robert Lee Scott Jr., who was an American fighter pilot during World War 2. The book's popularity then inspired a film adaptation (and likely the first bumper stickers bearing that phrase) in 1945. The book title and the bumper sticker both were a way to acknowledge God’s presence in His follower’s life. B.J. Gallagher saw the bumper sticker, then wrote a book entitled “If God is Your Co-Pilot, Switch Seats” that was published in 2011. This book title is the likely source of this one-liner (with some “Southerner” replacing “switch” with “swap” to make the phrase homier).
The message of that phrase (and the intent of the author in using that title for her book) was to explore the concept of spiritual surrender, whereby we “let go and let God” (a second one-liner with a similar meaning). Both one-liners present the same message, one I believe that we find in Philippians 4:6-7. There we read “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  This scripture (and the one-liners) both carry three important messages.
First, God must be the primary driver in our life. A co-pilot is a wonderful addition to any trek (whether by plane, boat, or car) but the co-pilot can only go where the pilot steers the craft unless the pilot yield control to the co-pilot. Otherwise, the co-pilot is just an assistant or a passenger. If we ask God for help and seek His guidance in His word, He will provide the directions that we need. He will willingly become the pilot if we let Him.
Second, we cannot involve God only when it is convenient or when we are facing difficulties. A pilot sailing a boat on calms seas with steady wind doesn’t really need a co-pilot. But when that pilot faces a storm, and visibility is limited and the craft is being buffeted back and forth by the wind, the co-pilot’s assistance is certainly needed. However, if God is the pilot (not the co-pilot) in our lives, and God is piloting that vessel that is called our life, then He will steer us around many troubles. When we encounter those stormy waters of life, He will guide us through them if we yield control to Him.
Finally, we must trust God fully with all aspects of our life. Proverbs 16:25 reads “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” If we ignore God or only turn to Him when we experience the troubled waters of this world, then that way may lead to eternal death. Acknowledging that God’s way is the only way to eternal salvation will help us avoid destruction and end safely in our final destination—eternity with God in Heaven.
            As I close this article, I can’t help but think of the words to a song that some of us know by heart, so I’ll close with those lyrics. The song is “He Will Pilot Me” and the lyrics are included below. Remember, God should be our Pilot—if He is your co-pilot, GIVE UP YOUR SEAT!
— Dave May

He’ll Pilot Me
Written by Charles T. Bailey
Composed by Byron Whitworth,

 
Verse 1
Although I cannot see the way O’er life’s tempestuous sea (dark sea)
I know that Jesus is my Friend And that He’ll pilot pilot me
Verse 2
Dark clouds may gather in the sky And rough the sea may be (may be)
His love shall ever be my song I know He’ll pilot pilot me
Verse 3
Dear Lord whate’er the storms may be I’ll simply trust in Thee (in Thee)
Relying on Thy love so true To safely pilot pilot me
Chorus
By His hand He’ll pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea
When my blinded eyes can’t see Cannot see the way the way
Come what may let come what may On life’s dark and stormy sea
My dear Lord blessed Lord He will pilot pilot me