The Greatest Marvel Of All

The marvels of the electronic and computer age constantly amaze me. All the talk of the radical changes taking place in the transmission and use of information sometimes could be a bit intimidating to one who can recall the wonder and thrill of the early eras of radio and television. But I am sure some might be surprised that some sixty-five or so years ago I routinely sat at a desk and chatted via a keyboard with other airmen halfway around the world.

Even though I have watched the development of all the wondrous gadgets that bridge these  eras and sometimes might have to ask my son or a grandson to help me along the way, I have never ceased to be impressed.

One area of fascination has been the development and proliferation of radar, satellites, gps and other electronic navigational devices. Man is now able to pinpoint his position to within a few millimetres in a vast sea or in the vastness of space. He can fly giant aircraft automatically with absolute accuracy. (But sometimes seems unable to locate one that has been obviously flown into a disaster.)

He can fly an armed missile through a window from a ship hundreds of miles away. He can send a moon rocket through a window of opportunity with the same accuracy required to hit a fast flying bee with a bullet at a thousand meters.

During the Korean conflict I was involved in military communications. On occasion I worked with those who used what would now be viewed as very primitive Ground- Control Equipment to guide crippled or air medical evacuation planes loaded with wounded to a safe landing. The key to it all was being able to electronically penetrate the thickest cloud or fog and plot a path of safety through the storm.

I will never forget the tenseness of the moment of truth when a plane broke through a very low ceiling and made a safe touch down. Even harder to forget are the few that did not make it. Good guidance was essential and the gratitude expressed by those who received it was really appreciated by those who went through the agony of having the lives of others absolutely dependent upon their ability to accurately use primitive guidance equipment.

All of this has often made me think of the greatest  guidance marvel of all. The infallible ability of the Holy Spirit to guide God's people through the troubles and storms of life. His all seeing eye is in every place beholding both the good and evil. He knows the end from the beginning and all that lies in between. His ability to assure a safe landing and good conclusion has no parallel. There is no cloud of trouble or fog of despair too heavy or storm of life too severe for our paraklete. He is able to work all things together for the good of those who love the Lord.

It is marvelous, but true, that our Lord knows the way in the wilderness of this world and all we have to do is follow! We can be sure He will land us safely on the other side!

Precious Promises

When we are discouraged or face unexpected adversities it is good to pause and think of the greatness and goodness our God has shown in His promises to His people in His book.. He has not promised to supply all our wants, but all our needs. We sometimes get the two concepts confused. Parents normally know what is best for their children and are able to discriminate between those things they desperately want and the things that the really need. They are aware that some wanted things will be hurtful rather than helpful. Our heavenly Father is much more able to make such judgments.

Someone else has said, " Burdens, too, can often be stepping stones to higher ground." A biologist tells how he watched an ant carrying a piece of straw which seemed a big burden for it. The ant came to a crack in the earth which was too wide to cross. It stopped for a time as though pondering the situation, then it put the straw across the crack and walked over upon it and then grasped the straw and went upon its way!  What a lesson for us! A burden can become a bridge for spiritual progress if we endeavour by God's help to live the overcoming life!

Yes, our God has given us so many great and precious promises and shown us that He is faithful and His promises never fail. "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." (1 Kings 4:56b) Perhaps of all His promises, those that speak of brighter days and a heavenly future are the most thrilling to the soul of those who are going through tough times. He tells us that all things do work together for the ultimate good of those who love Him. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Many may be the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver him out of them all. He may pass through the waters and rivers of trials and tribulations, but no matter how swift and terrible the flood, he will not be overwhelmed. He may walk through the fire of trouble and testing, but he will not be touched or singed by the flame. He may suffer the pain and constant irritation of a thorn in his flesh, but God's grace will be sufficient in every situation; even the valley and shadow of death.

Perhaps the most precious promises of all relate to our ultimate deliverance not only from the penalty and power of sin, but from its very presence as well. There will come a day when we will enter that city whose builder and maker is God. We will go to that dwelling place for a prepared people. Then He shall wipe away all tears from our eyes and there will be no more crying, sorrow, pain or death. His ultimate precious promise of His eternal presence with His people will have come to pass!

God's Practical Joke On The Evolutionists

The Platypus is a small creature unique to Australia. There is not another like it on God's green earth. It lives in freshwater streams and billabongs all over Australia. It seems to be an odd mixture of a reptile, bird, and animal. It is the sort of weird creature that you might think was created by a committee. Although it lives in water, it breathes air. It has webbed feet with which it swims, much like a duck. These webbed feet have claws. Its body is covered with loose fur. It has a quaint duck like bill as well.

These outward features are not as odd as the inward ones. Its heart is that of a real animal, but its reproduction organs are practically the same as a reptile. It reproduces by laying eggs that very much resemble lizard eggs. During hatching the mother broods much like a hen. When her eggs are hatched, she feeds her young by milk, as mammals do, but she has no teats. The babies get their milk by sucking it through the pores of the mother's skin.

This small animal has confounded evolutionists since its discovery by Sir Joseph Banks, who came to Australia with Captain Cook on his voyage of discovery. It contradicts nearly every tenant of the theory of progressive evolution as imagined and proposed by those who deny God spoke this universe into existence. Who knows? One might easily imagine our great Creator God laughing at their confusion! (See Proverbs 1:18:23) - Pastor John G White