Identity

 

Photo by Laurie Collett 2024

Until recently, most people had never heard of NPD, or National Public Database. But now, because of possibly the largest ever breach of individual US personal data, millions or even billions of Americans have their Social Security Number, email and physical address, phone number, and/or passwords exposed on the Dark Web, potentially for sale to the highest bidder.

Although the breach apparently happened in April, the news did not surface until August – plenty of time for bad actors to do considerable damage, unbeknownst to the victims. 

Imagine finding out – too late – that your identity has been stolen. The thief has opened accounts, taken out loans, and received health care in your name; mortgaged your house to the hilt; sold your property and pocketed the proceeds; fraudulently claimed and received an income tax refund; destroyed your credit; wiped out your savings; and left you with mounds of credit card debt. Your accounts are frozen, you can’t access funds from your paycheck, and you will be evicted from your home.

Ideally, you find out in time to reverse at least some of these losses and to protect yourself from further danger. Ironically, these remedial steps involve countless hours of disclosing the stolen data, and more, online, to identity and credit monitoring bureaus, government agencies, and law enforcement, leaving the victim to wonder whether they are improving their situation or exposing themselves to further harm.  

Although born-again believers (John 3:3-8) are far from immune to identity theft, we can have the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and joy in our salvation (Habakkuk 3:18). Our identity is secure in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Who died on the cross to pay for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), so that all who trust Him as the only Way (John 14:6) to Heaven have eternal life (John 3:16).

Our balance sheet may look dismal, but our self-image is unblemished, for we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). Society and false friends may look on us as no better than paupers, but we know that we are royalty, daughters and sons of the King, betrothed to Jesus Christ Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) and joint heirs with Him! (Romans 8:14-17). We are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God! (Ephesians 2:19)

Our clothes may be tattered, but we are clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness! (Isaiah 61:10). When God the Father looks at us, He no longer sees our sin, for Christ has paid our sin debt in full. Now God sees only the pristine holiness of His Son, now miraculously deposited to our heavenly account (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2).

Our earthly treasures may be decimated, but we have laid up treasures in Heaven that no thief can steal and no physical process can damage (Matthew 6:20). Work done for Jesus with the right motive and souls led to Him will be eternally rewarded with crowns (1 Corinthians 3:13-15), which we will cast at Jesus’ feet in gratitude for our salvation (Revelation 4:10).

We may lose our country club privileges, but we still have access to the most exclusive club of all! One day we will enter through the straight and narrow gate of Heaven (Matthew 7:13-14), beautiful beyond imagination (Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9), where we will never die, age, or experience pain, sorrow or sin (Revelation 21:4). We will have infinite time to enjoy our loved ones and new friends in Him, and even Jesus Christ Himself, seen face-to-face and known as He now knows us! (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Despite the exclusive and top-tier rewards of Heaven, membership is all-inclusive, open to whosoever will call on the Name of Jesus Christ to be saved! (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). So if your identity is not yet secure in Him, trust Him as your Lord and Savior today! Your financial identity could become compromised, but once you become His follower, you will never lose your position or privileges in Him!

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! (Romans 8:35-39). In Him, our identity, soul and being are held tight in His hand, which is firmly gripped by the hand of God the Father (John 10:28-29) and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13).

While my husband and I were at our beach house, our dinner conversation turned to venting our frustrations and anxiety over the growing perils of the world we live in – not only cybercrime, but war, terrorism, political upheaval, pandemics, natural disasters, and Christian persecution, among others. Praise God that these are predicted in His Word, signaling His imminent return (Matthew 24), and that they are but temporal and fleeting concerns compared with the peace and joy we will experience in our eternal home! (Romans 8:18).

Indeed, God calmed our fears by showing us a beautiful sunset, pictured above, a reminder of His faithfulness in governing the universe and His amazing creativity and artistry. Such vivid colors and dramatic shapes would not be possible without the clouds in the evening sky, just as the trials and dark moments in our life contrast with and thereby enhance our appreciation of His many blessings.

And to top off His visual love letter, He presented us with a half-circle rainbow, as seen below, a symbol of His faithfulness and protection! (Genesis 9:11-17). God is good, all the time, and we can be secure in our identity in Him!  

Photo by Richard Collett 2024

© 2024 Laurie Collett

10,000 Steps

 

Photo by Selmane Cherifi 2018

When my husband Richard was  diagnosed with prostate cancer, we consulted a nutritionist who specializes in lifestyle interventions used in conjunction with medical therapy to improve cancer-related outcomes.

God has blessed us with a dance ministry, specializing in Theatre Arts dancing in which my husband lifts me overhead. However, the nutritionist pointed out that our dance regimen consists of short, intense bursts of energy while practicing our 3 to 4 minute dance, and that we should add continuous aerobic exercise for 30 minutes or more.

This would be best accomplished by walking briskly, she said, and recommended goals of 30 minutes daily of continuous exercise, plus 10,000 steps daily, to be monitored using a Fitbit device. Although the goal of 10,000 steps has been touted as showing a survival advantage, it turns out to be rather arbitrary. When the first fitness monitor was released in Japan, its manufacturer named it after the Japanese equivalent for “10,000 step-meter.”

Research studies since then used that goal as a cutoff to define optimal activity and showed benefits in blood pressure, blood sugar, and a variety of other health outcomes. But the CDC has not issued 10,000 steps as a daily goal, instead recommending 150 minutes per week of brisk walking or similar exercise.

The consensus of expert opinion, based on clinical and research evidence, is that more is better. Increasing your daily steps by even 1,000 per day can help if you’re only walking 2,000 steps to start, and if you are already walking 10,000 steps daily, there is no reason to stop there if you desire optimal health benefit. Recent studies show that there is no ceiling effect, or upper limit of exercise beyond which there is no additional health benefit.

A recent checkup suggested that Richard should reduce his cardiovascular risk by increasing his high-intensity interval training (HIIT), similar to what we do in our morning dance practice, but more often. As it is not practical to go to the ballroom more than once a day, I wondered how we might accomplish this.

A few minutes later I happened to visit our local community Facebook page and saw that someone was giving away a new StepMaster, a compact exercise machine that gives a full-body HIIT workout. Through God's abundant provision, this machine was set up in our living room within an hour! (Sadly, though, I find myself using it a lot more often than Richard, despite my gentle coaxing!) 

With exercise, as with any form of purpose-driven activity, we often find ourselves wondering: How much is enough?  

Is 10,000 steps a day enough for my already physically active husband, who regularly does maintenance and yard work on properties he manages?  Is staying overtime at work, volunteering for difficult projects, and networking with leaders enough to ensure you’ll get the desired promotion? Will getting a few cases of water and batteries, shuttering the windows, and sealing the doors with sandbags be enough to get us through what is predicted to be an extremely active hurricane season?

In all these areas of life and more, we can never be sure that we’re doing or trying or accumulating enough to achieve the desired result. But as born-again Christians (John 3:3-8), we know that we can never do enough, or be good enough, to work our way to Heaven.

Praise the Lord, we don’t have to, for He gives salvation as a free gift (Romans 6:23) to all who earnestly call on His Name! (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). If we trust that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), proving that He is Son of God and God Himself, that is enough!

As the saying goes, religion says “do,” but Jesus says, “Done!” In His last moment hanging on the cross, He cried “It is finished!” (John 19:30) for His death satisfied the demands of holy, righteous God (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). No more animal sacrifices had to be made, for He was the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-24), the perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29) Whose blood washes us clean from all our sins (Revelation 1:5).

At His death, the thick veil of the temple tore in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38), signifying that Christ came from Heaven to earth so that sinful man need no longer be separated from Holy God. Now all who trust in His completed work on our behalf as the only Way (John 14:6) to Heaven are guaranteed an eternal home there (John 14:1-3).

Although the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple had no seat, because the work of the high priest making sacrifices to cover our sins was never done, our Great High Priest Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69). His work to save us from the penalty of sin is completed, and it is enough! He is the only One Who can rightly say that He has accomplished all the work His Father appointed Him to do (John 17:4).

When we attempt to add to His perfect work by using our good works or our attempts at holiness to earn our salvation, God sees these as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), as putrid as the used bandage from a leper’s wound. It is a slap in God’s face to point to our good works as a way to be saved, for we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Nor can we be saved by keeping the law, for we can never be holy enough in our own righteousness. Jesus warned that unless you could be even more perfect than the most perfect Pharisee in obeying the letter of the law, you would be doomed (Matthew 5:20), for we are all sinners, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Only Jesus kept the law perfectly, for He was tempted in all points as we are, yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

The apostle James wrote that even if we are guilty of breaking a single point of the law, it is as if we have broken the whole law (James 2:10). All religions except for Christianity are works-based, leaving their followers with a dreaded sense of uncertainty over whether they have done enough to merit a place in Heaven. Would 10,000 steps on a pilgrimage to Mecca, or 10,000 Hail Marys over a lifetime, or $10,000 paid into church coffers ever be enough?

Praise God, followers of Jesus Christ know that we can never do enough, for we are sinners deserving eternal punishment in hell, yet saved by His grace! Instead of worrying about doing enough, we can rejoice in serving Him more and more, for we can’t outgive God (Luke 6:38). Our baby steps will multiply and strengthen until we are marathon runners for Him, not to be saved, but out of gratitude for how He has changed our life and our destiny (1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1).

Our sins are debited against His account, and His perfect righteousness is credited to our account once we have faith in Him (Romans 4:23-24; James 2:23). Then He blesses us according to His riches in glory (Ephesians 3:16), which are always more than enough, for He owns everything! (Psalm 50:7-12). His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9), no matter what our need!

In trying to meet my fitness goals, I worry that not all my steps are counted by the Fitbit. I take it off at bedtime, so it misses my steps if I get up at night. I take it off while dancing to avoid getting it caught on our clothing or causing injury. I am surprised and a little disappointed that a 1 hour tap class only registers as 7 minutes of continuous exercise. But praise the Lord, He keep excellent records! 

Every good work I do for Him with the right motive will be rewarded (1 Corinthians 3:9-15), for our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). May we therefore be fervent in His business (Romans 12:11) and always abounding in His work!

© 2019 Laurie Collett

Edited and reposted from the archives

God’s Provision and Protection

 

Photo by Richard Collett 2024

My husband Richard and I are blessed to be able to continue in our dance ministry, in the physically demanding style of Theater Arts Ballroom Dance, which combines elements of ballroom and Latin partnership dancing, ballet and contemporary, with overhead lifts, drops, and other strength moves.

Every day we are able to dance is a gift from God, especially given our ages (Richard is 76 and I am 71) and physical limitations. One of our favorite dance ministry verses is therefore Isaiah 40:31: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

While training for a world competition held in the UK in 2000, Richard was suddenly unable to breathe and was diagnosed with a heart condition, for which recommended treatment included exercise to the extent he was able! We competed successfully just 3 weeks after his heart procedure.

In 2017 I was bedridden with pneumonia for 6 weeks, but gradually improved through gentle exercise, singing, and a return to dancing! Four years ago, Richard was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer but responded well to treatment. We were able to perform 3 weeks after his surgery, even though the doctors had predicted 3 months of recovery! God is good! Praise God that His grace is sufficient, His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and that with Him, all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26).

Recently we were blessed by an opportunity to bring our dance ministry to a new audience, venue, and state. We submitted a video audition to a senior talent competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and were selected from many in-person and video auditions to be one of 12 acts performing, including singers, musicians, comedians, and even a magician!

We were the only dancers, performing to a recording of Christian lyrics I wrote and sang to the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel. As it was a full day’s drive to get there, we planned to combine the competition with a mini-vacation and found a reasonably priced AirBnB to rent for several days.

But it seemed that our recreation plans would be foiled by bad weather, as the forecast called for 80% chance of rain and thunderstorms every day we would be there. But thankfully, we had good weather on our trip to Tennessee, no issues with our aging and often ailing vehicle, and light traffic – all answers to specific prayers!.

We were delighted by our accommodations – clean and comfortable, nestled on the side of a hill with privacy, fresh air, and lovely mountain views. Every morning we enjoyed breakfast on the front porch, serenaded by robins, cardinals, mockingbirds, and even a crowing rooster!

As predicted, it rained often while we were there, but never while we were out in it, and we were able to enjoy the many beautiful sights of Chattanooga. Surprisingly, we experienced the unique rock formations and gardens of Rock City with only a few visitors we passed along the trails, rather than the dense crowds we had expected. We had Lookout Mountain practically to ourselves, with its breathtaking views and moving battle monuments.

Again, these were answers to specific prayers. We had almost wondered if it was appropriate to “trouble” God regarding these relatively minor requests, but then remembered the apostle James’ admonition that we have not, because we ask not (James 4:2), and that God delights in giving good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).

As thankful as we were for these abundant blessings, our main focus was on the ministry aspect of our trip, with many concerns and hopes that God addressed. Safety is always a priority when we dance in a new venue, as the floor surface can be too slippery, or too sticky, which hinders the speed needed to enter and travel in lifts. Spotlights can be disorienting or even blinding during spinning lifts, increasing the risk of a missed connection or even a fall. Musical equipment or other obstacles in the dancing space can pose their own challenges!

But praise God, the stage floor was painted wood, an ideal surface for our dance shoes. The stage was evenly well lit without spotlights, and the dance space was clear! The crew and volunteers were welcoming, helpful and supportive. When we set out on a mission God has appointed to us, He will provide whatever we need to accomplish it, according to His riches in glory! (Philippians 4:19).

The theater was packed out – 650 enthusiastic spectators. As the newly built, spacious theater was on a Baptist academy campus, it was an inspirational setting because the walls in the lobby were filled with metal plaques and engravings of Bible verses about God being the source of our ability (Philippians 4:13) and about glorifying God in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Especially uplifting was an unsigned poem handwritten on a dry erase board by the stage entrance, entitled “A Liturgy Before Taking the Stage.” As I don’t know to whom to attribute it (other than to Holy Spirit inspiration) or how to get permission to post it, I will select only a few lines from this poem of many stanzas:

“What have I to offer here that might sustain the souls of others?…O Christ, as I step onto this stage, meet me amidst the wreckage of my ego and my woundedness, and through me give what I alone cannot.…Take this tiny heap of my talents and my brokenness alike…and meld it to the greater work of Your Spirit [so that] Your grace might somehow be revealed upon this stage in whatever gloried and peculiar patterns You have fashioned me to display. Amen.”

Praise God, He answered that prayer to use what He had given us – our talents and our trials -- to bless others and glorify Him! Many of our competitors were brothers and sisters in Christ who also took that poem to heart, and all were extremely talented. Rehearsal went well, with many of the crew, volunteers and competitors expressing their appreciation for our dancing, my singing, and our message. We often replied “Only by the grace of God!”

The actual performance went better technically and expressively than we have ever danced this piece, and it was one of those rare moments of complete immersion in worship through dance. The crowd applauded at lyrics and at lifts portraying the salvation message. One of the judges, herself a dancer and choreographer seeking to glorify God in this art form, gave us a standing ovation, and another judge said he had goose bumps the whole time!

Praise God, if we delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4) -- in this case, to glorify Him in our performance!

Three of the four judges gave us a perfect score, and we received second place of the 12 competitors selected from preliminary auditions and video submissions. The cash prize of $500 paid for our AirBnB and was an unexpected blessing! In all aspects, God answered our prayers for this ministry opportunity far beyond what we could even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

The day after the competition, we had a full day of sightseeing then returned to the AirBnB around 5PM. Around 6PM the internet and power went out, and winds began blowing in a circular pattern, making an eerie sound.

“I hope it’s not a tornado,” Richard said. As if on cue, a tree 4 ft. In diameter and 30 ft. long crashed straight across our driveway, only about 5 feet from our car. It pulled down all the power lines, which also blocked the driveway, broke the sturdy chain link fence, and snapped a telephone pole in the neighbor's yard.

Although the storm left as quickly as it had come, and we thanked God for protecting us, my heart sank as I feared we would be stuck there for weeks, with no power and no way to use our car. When a similar tree blocked the road leading to our beach house after Hurricane Ian, it took a full crew about a month to clear the road.

But amazingly, the AirBnB owner showed up with a chain saw. This wizard with a glorified weed whacker had it all cleared out in a couple of hours – just before dark!

Before he started working, Richard asked him if he was sure the power company had cut the electricity to the downed lines, tangled up in the fallen tree branches. “Oh, I’m sure somebody’s reported it by now,” he replied cavalierly, seemingly unphased by the destruction, by the potential danger, or by the herculean task ahead of him. “I’m surprised this tree was the first to go – I always figured it would be the one right over the house!”

We shuddered contemplating that scenario, especially when he told us that two houses had collapsed just a few streets away. Apparently the storm had indeed been a tornado, as the fallen tree was the only damage on our street, and the rest of the neighborhood had been spared except for the two collapsed houses.

The power was out all night, but it was a strangely relaxing experience. We had enough light to read the Bible out loud and then prayed in bed in the dark, giving praise and thanksgiving for God’s deliverance and prayers for all those affected by the storm and for our safe journey home. The open windows offered a cooling breeze and the soothing sounds of rain and light thunder in the distance.

We had so many praises to God for His protection and provision!  Praise Him that the tree didn't fall on our car, or worse yet, on the house! Thank God we were able to get out the next morning and get home safely, again with good weather, no car issues, and light traffic on the way home!. God is so good, all the time! Praise Him for the many prayer warriors at home and in our church family who stood in the gap for us during our journey and facilitated this unique ministry opportunity!

© 2024 Laurie Collett

Photo by Laurie Collett 2024

Stargazing

 

The more you look, the more you see. This thought entered my mind as my husband and I sat on the balcony of our beach house getaway, gazing upward at the vast, starry sky.

As we first went outside, the sky appeared overcast, with few discernible points of light. But the longer we sat there, the more dark-adapted our eyes became. Gradually more stars appeared, and even recognizable constellations. After several minutes of our evening prayer, a meteor even streaked across the horizon, leaving a shining trail before it vanished!

If we are to fully appreciate the night sky, we must spend time in hopeful anticipation that our patience will be rewarded. It is much the same for prayer. We can rush through it, like the hastily recited grace in a restaurant, squeezed in before the server returns to take the order. Or we can wait quietly in our prayer closet, not so that we can remember and ask for every last wish cluttering our mind that day, but so that we can hear God speak (Psalm 46:10; 1 Kings 19:12).

Before we reclined in the patio chairs, our view was restricted to what was immediately before and below us. The horizon and waves were mesmerizing and soothing, yet had we not changed our perspective to the heavens above, we would have missed the main event!

I wonder how many times God wants to direct our attention upward, to remind us that our home is in Heaven once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and that we are already seated in heavenly places in Him (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6). Yet if we stubbornly look downward or even straight ahead, how can we set our minds and hearts on things above and store up heavenly treasure (Matthew 6:19-20) that lasts forever?

The stargazing on that particular night was spectacular, with little light pollution from the quiet beachside development, and a new moon reflecting no light to Earth. Jesus Christ Himself is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), just as the sun is the physical source of light on our planet. Sunlight reflected from the moon, which has no intrinsic light source, illuminates the night sky. Similarly, we as believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15), reflecting His light to others.

But in certain phases of the moon, sunlight reflected from the moon is not visible from our location on Earth, and the brilliance of the stars is our only nocturnal illumination. I believe there are seasons when Christ’s glory reflects brightly from His children, to His glory, and other seasons when His light is not reflected from us, lest we be consumed by pride and wrongly assume that we shine brightly without His power. As John the Baptist said, “[Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

The heavens are filled with countless stars, most of which are brighter than earth’s sun, yet they are impossible to see during the day because light from the sun is so much closer. They are even difficult to see at night, particularly when there is a full moon or many street or porch lights.

Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19), in the third heaven, even further away from the second heaven where the stars reside (2 Corinthians 12:2). Yet He sent His Holy Spirit to live within the heart of every believer (2 Corinthians 1:22), so He is very near to us (Acts 17:27; James 4:8). But if we allow His light within us to be eclipsed by the false lights of the world or by our own self-glorification, we will miss His lamp to our feet and light for our path (Psalm 119:105).

Thinking I could enhance our stargazing experience, I had surprised my husband on his birthday with the gift of a telescope! My intentions were good, but after more than an hour of fiddling with knobs, lenses, screws, and viewing angles, the image we could see through the viewfinder was blurred and actually inferior to what we could see with our naked eyes!

It may have been operator error, or faulty equipment, but in any case it made me think that God often wants to communicate with us directly through His Word, and not through an overly analytical approach that may actually distance us from His message or obfuscate His truth.

Bible study and meditation on His Word are good, desirable, and commanded by God (Psalm 119; John 5:39; Acts 17:11). Often Scripturally sound commentaries, sermons, and teaching can be illuminating, yet the best commentary on the Word of God is the Word of God itself. Reading books about the Bible are no substitute for reading the Bible itself.

If we attempt to view the stars through a telescope lens, we may succeed in getting a closer glimpse of a particular star, but we may lose sight of the forest for the trees and fail to appreciate the overwhelming glory of God through the vastness of His creation. The glory of the stars is different from that of the sun and the moon, and each star differs from the others in its glory (1 Corinthians 15:41)

I am reminded of a speaker I once heard at a funeral, who gave a most erudite, detailed presentation about Joseph of Arimathaea (Mark 15:43), his history, his family history, and his provision of the tomb for Jesus. Yet he failed to preach the Gospel, to mention that the tomb is empty (John 20), and that through Jesus’ resurrection, all who trust Him have eternal life!

The starry sky is not only beautiful and awe-inspiring, but it also calls to mind God’s many promises recorded and fulfilled in His Word. He promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation with descendants as innumerable as the grains of sand in the desert, or as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; etc.). He kept and is still fulfilling this promise through the birth of Isaac even when his mother Sarah had been barren and was then decades past her childbearing years (Genesis 17:17).

God not only created all the stars by His Word (Genesis 1:16; Psalm 8:3; 136:9) and arranged them into constellations (Job 9:9) but knows each of them by name (Psalm 147:4), just as He knows each of us intimately and knows our needs before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8). Bible prophecy foretells that during the Great Tribulation, which no believer will experience, a third of the stars will fall from the sky (Revelation 8:12; 12:4; Matthew 24:29), and the stars will no longer give their light (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:10; 3:15).

It has been said that looking at the star-filled sky is like hiding under the front porch as children, peering through the cracks between the floorboards, and seeing pinpoints of light among the cobwebs, dirt and rusty nails. We caught a glimpse of something better, yet we could not appreciate that on the other side of those floorboards was a stately mansion. Now we contemplate the stars but as of yet cannot imagine the glory Heaven holds (Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9), including the special mansions Christ is preparing for us (John 14:1-3).

Jesus Christ Himself is the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) Who will come again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), I pray soon, just when all is at its darkest. May the eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1:18) be enlightened! Till He returns may we keep looking up (Luke 21:28), for our ultimate redemption into glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15: 42-57) draws near!

© 2020 Laurie Collett

 

GPS

 

Photo by Ximonic, Simo Räsänen, 2010

Back in the day when GPS, or global positioning system, became popular, I had mixed feelings about this new technology that could map your position anywhere on earth using coordinates. On the one hand, it was reassuring to know that my car could be located in the event that I got stranded in an accident in a remote place. Yet it evoked suspicion of Big Brother watching me wherever I went, compromising my privacy even though I had nothing to hide. 

Those were the days when motoring associations still issued trip planners, or booklets with a separate page for each leg of a proposed road trip, giving directions, a map, mileage and fuel costs, and even sightseeing attractions, restaurants, and lodging along the route. Yet to be fully effective, using these required a navigator who would read the (often unclear) directions to the driver, both of whom were too preoccupied with getting from point A to point B to be able to relax and enjoy the journey. 

As computer technology took quantum leaps forward, the directionally challenged such as myself could depend on Alexa, a virtual assistant, whose consistently calm and steady voice would give us directions, allowing us to keep both hands on the wheel and to focus on the traffic and sights we might encounter. 

I remember an episode of the sitcom “The Office” in which the disorganized boss and his obsessive-compulsive employee were taking a road trip. Free-spirited Michael wanted to wing it rather than follow directions, which was the pattern of his life, while Dwight insisted on rigidly obeying every GPS command, even as it led his new car straight into a swamp. 

“Back up 3 feet and proceed to the route,” intoned the pleasant, ever calm voice, while Michael waved his arms in desperation. 

Now that GPS-directed travel has become routine, my husband and I still disagree about its optimal use. When we are meeting our son for dinner downtown, my husband wants to take the usual highway route because it’s familiar and he knows the way. But I prefer him to use GPS, because it sees the whole traffic, construction, and accident situation and can route us around any obstacles or delays. 

Most of the time I win, but as soon as Alexa has us looping through back streets in what appear to be pointless circles, my husband gets aggravated and wants to go his own preferred way. 

“Well, there’s no sense in using Alexa if you’re not going to trust what she says,” I protest. Usually he gives in to the two female voices in the car – mine chiding and a bit impatient, while Alexa maintains her unruffled calm. At least until we pull over for gas or a pit stop, at which point she keeps repeating “Proceed to the route.” Even the most unimpassioned voice can seem annoyingly insistent when the message does not change! 

But Alexa prevails in the end, and we arrive at the restaurant safely, having made the best possible time thanks to a minimum of traffic delays. 

It reminded me that God is our unfailing GPS, our navigational system throughout life, keeping us on the best path even if that involves unexpected twists and turns. Once we are born again (John 3:3-8) by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), His Holy Spirit enters our heart (2 Corinthians 1:22; 3:3; Galatians 4:6). His still, small, voice is always there, if we choose to listen (1 Kings 19:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30). 

How reassuring, and yet sometimes how terrifying, to know that we can never escape God’s watchful eye. Wherever we go, anywhere on earth or even into outer space, we cannot escape His faithful presence. Even more profoundly than the GPS, He tracks our every move, whether we are in the center of His perfect will, seated in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6), or backslidden into the miry pit of this world (Psalm 139:1-10). 

This is a tremendous source of comfort when we are following His plan for our life. It should also be a fearsome motivator to return to Him when we know we are in disobedience, for He will chastise or even scourge His children when needed (Hebrews 12:6-11).  God has eyes and ears everywhere in the universe He created and sustains (John 1:1-3), so nothing escapes His attention. 

If Alexa directs our car into a swamp, she may be relying on outdated or inaccurate information, but God’s wisdom and knowledge are perfect, comprehensive, and complete (Proverbs 2:6; Romans 11:33; Colossians 2:3). If we listen to Him, He will keep us out of trouble and on His best path (Proverbs 3:5-6). As His vision is completely accurate and all-encompassing, His GPS could stand for "God's Perfect Sight." 

Despite her pleasant, almost sultry voice, Alexa is a computer program devoid of will or emotion, and she has no interest in our ultimate destination. Yet our God is a jealous God Who desires and deserves our full attention and loyalty (Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9), but Who loves us infinitely (1 John 4:8-9; 3:1, Romans 5:8, 8:39) and wants to bless us with His very best gifts (1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 2:4; 3:19, 5:2; James 1:17). When we yield control of our journey to Him, He gives us the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), as well as the blessings of beautiful sights and sounds along the way. 

The choice is ours – we can ignore God’s voice at our own peril, relying on our own flesh to get us to where we think we want to go, or we can follow Him, willingly placing our destiny in His loving, all-powerful hand where we are safe from all dangers (John 10:28-29). 

The bumper stickers that say “Jesus Is My Copilot” have it all wrong. Don’t you want God to be in the driver’s seat?  

© 2020 Laurie Collett

Edited and reposted from the archives