February 24
That Far Away Mentality
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV)
When I served in the military, I had the good fortune to travel overseas on temporary duty (TDY) assignments. While deployed, I once heard someone say with a wink, “What happens TDY stays TDY.” They felt being in a remote location, far from home, meant they could get away with something—what I am not quite sure.
This mindset reminded me of others I had met earlier in my career while undergoing training in West Texas. The year was 1977, the movie Star Wars was just out and the United States Air Force not only trained its own, it instructed foreign pilots as well. In fact, our base had an abundance of Iranians Uncle Sam trained for the Shah of Iran. Some of these students were absolutely WILD and many of our instructors just shook their heads. When the weekend rolled around many of these foreigners would pile into their sports cars and speed to San Antonio in search of forbidden pleasure. You see, they were away from home … far away. Here, they could do almost anything without embarrassing their families. Here, nothing restrained them. Here, they were far from Mecca, and they thought, far from the eye of God. In one sense, they behaved like total aliens, but in another….
I hate to admit it, but I don’t think we’re that different. Maybe it’s only a matter of degrees. How many of us have acted one way in public and another in private? One way in church, another way somewhere else? And what of our hidden fantasyland of thoughts, inner motivations, and secret desires? Do we try to live for God in one corner of our life then live another way in our favorite “far away” spot?
When will we accept the fact God is God, that He is omnipresent, that He knows it all? When will those thoughts finally penetrate our barriers? I don’t know, but when it happens, there is every possibility God not only will fill heaven and earth … He will fill all our heart as well.
Lord, forgive me for trying to keep secret places in my life. Look me over, Lord. Examine my heart. Know my thoughts and heal my soul. Amen.
That Far Away Mentality
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV)
When I served in the military, I had the good fortune to travel overseas on temporary duty (TDY) assignments. While deployed, I once heard someone say with a wink, “What happens TDY stays TDY.” They felt being in a remote location, far from home, meant they could get away with something—what I am not quite sure.
This mindset reminded me of others I had met earlier in my career while undergoing training in West Texas. The year was 1977, the movie Star Wars was just out and the United States Air Force not only trained its own, it instructed foreign pilots as well. In fact, our base had an abundance of Iranians Uncle Sam trained for the Shah of Iran. Some of these students were absolutely WILD and many of our instructors just shook their heads. When the weekend rolled around many of these foreigners would pile into their sports cars and speed to San Antonio in search of forbidden pleasure. You see, they were away from home … far away. Here, they could do almost anything without embarrassing their families. Here, nothing restrained them. Here, they were far from Mecca, and they thought, far from the eye of God. In one sense, they behaved like total aliens, but in another….
I hate to admit it, but I don’t think we’re that different. Maybe it’s only a matter of degrees. How many of us have acted one way in public and another in private? One way in church, another way somewhere else? And what of our hidden fantasyland of thoughts, inner motivations, and secret desires? Do we try to live for God in one corner of our life then live another way in our favorite “far away” spot?
When will we accept the fact God is God, that He is omnipresent, that He knows it all? When will those thoughts finally penetrate our barriers? I don’t know, but when it happens, there is every possibility God not only will fill heaven and earth … He will fill all our heart as well.
Lord, forgive me for trying to keep secret places in my life. Look me over, Lord. Examine my heart. Know my thoughts and heal my soul. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 12:02 AM
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