By Russell Williams

“Cleared for take-off,” came from the control tower. The four power levers are moved smoothly forward to reach take-off power, and the passengers sink back into their seats. The captain calls out to the co-pilot who is flying this leg from Fiji to New Zealand: “V1” [maximum abort speed], “V2” [committed to fly speed]—“Rotate!” Nearly 400 tons of technology, passengers, freight and fuel lumber into the sky, climbing to flight level three-five-zero—35,000 feet.

How exciting it was to be invited on to the flight deck of this Boeing 747/400 by an old colleague from my earlier aviation days. I was invited to stay in the jump seat throughout the entire flight.

“What a wonderful job these pilots have,” I thought. “And they get paid for it as well!”

It all looked so easy, but to fly a B747/400 takes many years of training and experience—as well as a lot of perseverance. Additionally, each crew member’s performance is checked at regular intervals both in the air and in flight simulators.

As I sat there, my mind flashed back to another flying colleague of earlier days. His name was Roger. We both instructed at the same flight training organization in the South Island of New Zealand.

One day Roger was out with a student on his first lesson when on landing their Piper Cherokee it was caught in a wind shear. Just as the aircraft was about to touch down on the runway, it stalled and banked steeply to the left. The left wing scraped the ground, tearing open the fiberglass wing cap and filling the wing end with turf.

I was in the control tower at the time, and saw this all happen. I had my finger on the crash button expecting the aircraft to cartwheel. It was a miracle that the left wing was not torn off. Roger skillfully regained control, climbed away, recircuited and landed—successfully this time. His confidence, however, was shattered.

On returning to the clubhouse, he announced to the manager that he was quitting. Wisely, the manager refused to discuss his resignation at that time. Instead, he told Roger that another student was waiting for a lesson. By this time the weather had settled down. Roger reluctantly got back in the cockpit and went out on another sortie. He returned with his confidence restored. If he hadn’t listened to the manager but quit instead, he might never have flown again.

Roger determined to keep improving in his flying skills. He applied several times for a job with Air New Zealand, a major passenger jet service. Repeatedly, however, his applications were rejected because he had not achieved sufficiently at high school. But he didn’t let these obstacles stifle his determination to succeed as a pilot.

Roger continued to gain flight experience in the South Pacific islands, flying light twin-engine aircraft to build up his multi-engine command time. Progressively he qualified to pass his airline transport license, which is required to captain a passenger airline. He proved through perseverance that he was capable of passing all the required examinations and had gained valuable practical experience to more than qualify for acceptance to the airline.

At last he had made it! Roger became a senior B747/400 captain for Air New Zealand. I spoke to him one day outside the Christchurch terminal building. We reminisced about our earlier days; I reminded him of his near crash that I witnessed and how successful he had since become, in spite of his many trials, setbacks and disappointments.

He responded, “Well, Russ, the three requirements to becoming an airline captain are: 1) perseverance, 2) perseverance and 3) perseverance!”

Through the foresight of his boss, Roger was obliged to persevere at a critical time when he felt like giving up. He learned a big lesson that day: A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.

Because of his perseverance, Roger and his family are now receiving the reward of his success. He enjoys an invigorating, exciting job—and he earns top dollar as a captain of a major airline.

Our great Creator God has plenty to say about this subject of perseverance. In fact, the entire Bible is full of examples of people who persevered; they endured and overcame many obstacles—just like my friend Roger did! The Apostle Paul wrote, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Paul had a tough life. He was shipwrecked a few times, beaten three times, and left for dead— but he kept on going! He never gave up. He successfully accomplished the job that God had sent him to do.

God promises great rewards to those who persevere. If we persevere, not only will we receive the rewards of our efforts now, we will also receive eternal life! That’s real success, but it can only be attained with perseverance! perseverance! perseverance!