Mysterious Drone Sightings Spark Security Concerns across the U.S. and Beyond

Drone activity forced a New York runway to temporarily shut down Friday night. Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland says he personally witnessed “dozens of large drones” flying above his home last Thursday evening. He wrote on X: “We are being told that neither the White House, the military, the FBI, or Homeland Security have any idea what they are, where they come from, or who has launched or is controlling them—and that they pose no threat. That response is entirely unacceptable.”

For weeks, objects that appear to be drones have been seen in the night skies, primarily in New Jersey but also in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Ohio. Mysterious drones are being reported over American air bases in the UK and Germany as well. Some are blaming Russia, China, Iran, hobbyists, and even aliens for the strange sightings.

Last Thursday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security released a joint statement declaring, “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” However, the agencies still do not know the identity of the UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena), admitting that the reported sightings “highlight the insufficiency of current authorities,” though they believe many are manned aircraft rather than drones.

Yesterday, federal authorities repeated assurances that the drones are not a security threat, but they still do not know where they came from or who is responsible. However, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas pointed to a rule change by the FAA in 2023 that allows drones to fly at night, stating, “That may be one of the reasons why now people are seeing more drones than they did before, especially from dawn to dusk.”

“We’re in a Very, Very Dangerous World Right Now”

It is certainly perplexing that, in this scientific day and age, our government is so perplexed about these sightings. But this is just one example of the frailty and finitude of humans in our chaotic world.

As warfare shifts to robots, drones, and satellites, our oceans will no longer protect us against invasion. As scientists continue to make unprecedented advances, “extinction-level” threats to humanity posed by artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering are unprecedented as well.

The level of conflicts around the world has doubled over the last five years. According to Mitch McConnell, “We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War Two.” In fact, a weekend essay in the Wall Street Journal asked, “Has World War III Already Begun?”

On the spiritual front, secularism continues to rise as religious affiliation wanes. Large majorities of Americans support abortion on demand same-sex marriage, and LGBTQ ideology. Entire denominations are declining as thousands of churches are closing.

When America faced such threats in the past, great spiritual awakenings resulted in millions turning to God for the strength and hope he alone could provide. For the same to happen today, however, we need to change how we see the One we need so desperately.

“Mixing Up a Batch of TNT to Kill a Sunday Morning”

In 1 Chronicles 17, we find a remarkable description of King David’s favor with God. The Lord promised, “I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth” (v. 8). Accordingly, he promised to “subdue all your enemies” (v. 10) and to “raise up offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom” (v. 11).

In light of David’s exalted status before God, I found this statement surprising: “Your servant has found courage to pray before you” (v. 25). We might think that a person so beloved and blessed by God would not need “courage” to pray to him.

But David was right: It should take courage for us to pray to the omnipotent, holy God of the universe. He could alter every circumstance of our lives and even end our lives this very second if he chose. His every blessing and provision is a result of his grace, not our merit.

The fact that we so often pray so nonchalantly to God reveals our failure to understand his majesty and authority. If we would need courage to speak to the president or governor, how much more to the King of kings?

Annie Dillard wrote:

On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it?

The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return.

“The Day of the Lord Will Come Like a Thief”

When we think of the Christ of Christmas, we picture a nondescript baby in a manger. However, those who first met him “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). When we think of him as a child, we picture a powerless toddler. When the Magi met him, “they fell down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11).

Don’t confuse God’s forbearance with apathy or his grace with impotence. He is delaying his judgment against our sinful world only because he is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

But make no mistake: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (v. 10). In the meantime, we are to live with “holiness and godliness” (v. 11) as we wait for “the coming of the day of God” (v. 12).

To find the God, we need so desperately in these chaotic days, we must turn to him in humble desperation. To experience his omnipotence, we must admit our frailty. To follow his omniscience, we must acknowledge our finitude. To be made holy, we must repent of our sinfulness.

*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.

Quote for the Day:

“The fact that Jesus will sit upon the throne of judgment will be the consternation of his enemies and the consolation of his people.” —John Murray (1989–1975)

Published Date: December 16, 2024

Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. Denison Ministries includes DenisonForum.org, First15.org, ChristianParenting.org, and FoundationsWithJanet.org. Jim speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.