Some years ago my wife and I paid a visit to England to Vera's aged mother.
During our stay we undertook a ten-day trip by car to the West Country -
Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. We travelled about 1500 km visiting many places we
remembered from our youth, and ventured into some new territory. A good deal of
our journey was on fast six or eight lane motorways, and some on country lanes
so narrow that to meet an oncoming vehicle meant retreat for one or the other.
As we were travelling, one thought struck me particularly. Wherever we went,
even in the loneliest places in the country, we would pass a telephone box. On
motorways, these are at regular intervals, so at worst there was only a short
walk to 'phone for help.
In the country, the familiar red telephone boxes or emergency AA or RAC 'phones
were to be found in most villages. That is very comforting because it means that
no matter where you are, if you do get into trouble, somewhere not far away
there is a telephone box from which you can call for help. It means that even in
the most remote place, if you have a breakdown or other emergency, you can use
one of these 'phones to get help. And you can do it twenty-four hours a day,
because there is always someone at the other end who knows exactly how to get
help to you quickly.
Throughout the world motoring organisations provide efficient roadside help for
their members. But it is not only in the car that we need help. These days our
cars are usually so reliable that we rarely need assistance.
Life, however, is not as reliable. Frequently we are faced with problems, large
or small, when we need to call for help. It may be to a friend, a relative, or
perhaps to a doctor. That sort of help is never far away, thank goodness. But
there are times when physical help is not what we need, times when the comfort
we seek is spiritual rather than physical.
I usually sign off with the words "Have a good week." Today, I find that hard to
do. The world is facing turmoil and this week and in the weeks to follow the
future is uncertain. If, like me, you fear what lies ahead, remember that
promise of Jesus when He said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake
you." Close your eyes right now and go to Him who will never leave you.
Pastor Ron w4w@keypoint.com.au
P. S. Isn't this great that we don't have to look for our loving Heavenly
Father? He said that He is dwelling in us: 1 Cor 3:16 "Don't you know that you
yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" NIV Help is but
a prayer away.
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