What is the biggest thing in the Universe?

Whenever the stresses of life “distress” you, do you fantasize an escape? A Caribbean cruise or European vacation? Or just a day in the woods, or a walk on the beach? “From my distress I called upon the LORD who answered me and set me in a large place” (Ps. 118:5). “Distress” refers to confinement (Ps. 4:1). Whether a jail cell or classroom; a difficult task or a challenging relationship—it is the feeling of being pressed in, i.e., a ‘tight spot.’ In contrast, a “large place” signifies the freedom of wide-open space.

Solomon said “God has put eternity in our hearts” (Eccl. 3:11). If time is the vestibule of eternity, it is not surprising we feel confined in this narrow hallway called earth. If, as A.W. Tozer says, the biggest thing in the universe is the human spirit, it is no wonder we cannot be satisfied with such a small space. 

Is Too Much Stress making You Sick?

A sign of our times is the volume of people seeking therapy because they are over-stressed by too much change. You might be surprised to know that this malady was first diagnosed in the 1800's (by a Dr. Miller Beard), when industrialization and urbanization were causing people symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and restlessness. The ailment was labeled “neurasthenia,” an over-taxing of the nervous system. Sound familiar?

But take hope; there is a cure. In fact, the cure has been around for a long time. To the over-stressed and restless throngs, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are  weary and burdened, and I will cause you to rest” (Matt. 11:28). To the Jewish believers who  had been expelled from Jerusalem and were facing martyrdom, Paul simply said, “Be diligent to enter His Rest” (Heb. 4:11). And centuries later, Augustine rightly said, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You.” The greater our stress, the more we will need “the times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

A Vanished Plane and The Rapture

Two weeks ago, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. Without a word of distress, it vanished—its unexplained disappearance captivating the world, and triggering a massive search across the Indian Ocean.

If the world is so confounded by one missing aircraft, imagine its reaction to the Rapture, when a thousand planes disappear into the seas and remote places, due to vanishing pilots (and passengers). Will astonished air traffic controllers and frustrated inspectors think the explanation will be found in 'black boxes?' How long will it take before they begin searching for answers in the 'black book,' and find Paul's words:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the trump of God, and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with Him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.(1 Thess. 4:16-18 edited). Perhaps they will read this post after we're gone!

George or Trayvon: who do you trust?

I can’t let the George Zimmerman trial go without some comment. The tragedy of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s death has resonated with Americans no matter how they view this event. Though I won't offer an opinion, I do think we should reflect on what is happening in 21^st century America: Fear and Distrust.

Though fear in America is not new (growing up in the Cold War era, I remember when everyone was afraid of the Russians), one has to ask if current circumstances—terrorism infiltrating our country, and an increasing crime rate in our cities—are causing Americans to be more fearful (as was the case, allegedly, with George Zimmerman).

In a recent poll, a majority of Americans said the world is more dangerous than ever before; and they are increasingly distrustful. Though this is not a specific sign of the end times, fear and distrust have become a sign of the times. How incongruent, then, that at this most fearful time in history, there is a movement underway to eliminate “In God we Trust” from the national conscience—to remove it from our currency, when the opposite should be happening! “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you; surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Is. 44:10). Who do you trust?

Hard-pressed

Today marks the fourth week since my surgery for pancreatic cancer. The majority of the cancer—a tumor—was removed, along with parts of my pancreas, stomach, bile duct, and duodenum—not to mention removal of the gall bladder. It is one of the most invasive surgeries. And the post-operation recovery for this surgery requires absolute confinement. And in this word—confinement—there was/is a great spiritual application.

When Paul referred to his various afflictions as a servant for Christ, he said, “We are hard-pressed, but we are not crushed” (2 Cor. 4:8)—both words connoting confinement, narrowness, or, as one might say, “I’m in a tight spot.” For almost two weeks, I was confined by tubes, needles, and drainage pipes. But, thankfully, my confinement was temporary. And not only was it temporary, I knew it was a portal through which I would find greater freedom.

I am still somewhat confined—by a low energy level, by ongoing medications and treatments that will limit me for an extended period. But the words of the Psalmist have never been more real to me. “From my distress [Hebrew word means a ‘tight or narrow space’] I called upon the LORD, and He answered me, and set me in a large place” (Ps. 118:5).