In idle moments I spend time admiring the way a computer can predict the rising and setting of sun, moon and planets. I have several programs which perform this feat. You simply tell the program where you are in the world and ask it when and where the sun will set at your location. It gives a time of day and a point on the compass. Lo and behold, the sun sets - at the right place and right on cue. What a well-ordered solar system we live in!
You can also make the program predict events in the skies hundreds of years in the future, or back-track to the past. The writers warn you that, the further away you get in time, the less accurate the program will be, since things happen which change the maths. A huge earthquake such as the recent one in Japan, or a massive volcanic eruption, can slow the earth's spin by a fraction of a second. This can put the calculations out considerably over the course of time.
With all man's cleverness, he cannot predict or control the unexpected. It is time to admit our limits. God challenged Job in ancient times about the starry heavens:
"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?" (Job 38:31-33 NIV)
The most we can do is to think God's thoughts after Him. After all, who could ever predict that He would send His own Son, His very self, to die for sins that we had done and rise again to give us life?
Friday 25 March 2011
Friday 11 March 2011
Goodbyes
This morning an experience came upon me suddenly and found me little prepared: the first of what will doubtless be many goodbyes. I visited my dentist and realised that by the time of my next routine appointment I shall almost certainly not be in this area any more. (My immediate destination is not yet clear.)
Kind words and good wishes were exchanged and I left the surgery with an emotional pang. Sure, I am as keen as mustard to move on to new beginnings. Yet it still comes hard when you put a distance between yourself and folks who have proved friendly, encouraging, supportive.
One benefit of living with a family is that you can go home and tell someone straight away how you are feeling. My kind host remarked helpfully, "You may have said 'goodbye' to some people, but soon you will be saying 'hello' to others." He talked about a country he knows well where there is a strong tradition of hospitality and guests are always well looked after. When it is time to go, the custom is that you say your farewells and depart without a backward glance. There is always some new household somewhere that will soon give you the same generous welcome.
How touched I was! This reminds me of Jesus' teaching about the preparations going on in heaven to say "hello" to us.
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3 NIV). The last and perhaps most difficult farewell is when we say goodbye to this life. But for those who trust in Jesus and whose real home is heaven, there are preparations already going on and people gathering, just waiting to say "hello".
Kind words and good wishes were exchanged and I left the surgery with an emotional pang. Sure, I am as keen as mustard to move on to new beginnings. Yet it still comes hard when you put a distance between yourself and folks who have proved friendly, encouraging, supportive.
One benefit of living with a family is that you can go home and tell someone straight away how you are feeling. My kind host remarked helpfully, "You may have said 'goodbye' to some people, but soon you will be saying 'hello' to others." He talked about a country he knows well where there is a strong tradition of hospitality and guests are always well looked after. When it is time to go, the custom is that you say your farewells and depart without a backward glance. There is always some new household somewhere that will soon give you the same generous welcome.
How touched I was! This reminds me of Jesus' teaching about the preparations going on in heaven to say "hello" to us.
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3 NIV). The last and perhaps most difficult farewell is when we say goodbye to this life. But for those who trust in Jesus and whose real home is heaven, there are preparations already going on and people gathering, just waiting to say "hello".
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