One of the biggest trends to hit our modern world is text messaging. The Neilson Company, an independent survey company, released figures showing that the typical US mobile phone subscriber now sends and receives more text messages than they do actual phone calls.
The news once reported that a teenage girl received her phone bill and it was more than 80 pages in length, recording some 6,734 text messages in a single month. Fortunately for her (and for her parents), the plan they had purchased included unlimited talks and texting. When I heard this bit of news trivia, I took my calculator and did some figuring and discovered at one minute per text message, it came out to be 4 1/2 days. All I can say is “Get a life!”
Whenever someone asked you, “Did you get my text?” they are asking more than, “Did you receive it?” Rather they are asking. “Did you read it?” “Did you grasp it?” “Are you going to respond to it?”
Though text messaging may be relatively new to some people, it isn’t. Text messaging really began with God, the Father, several thousand years ago as He texted us with every one of the 774,746 words of the Holy Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God has texted us regarding history, and He personally instructed us as to how we are to live our lives. He has given us His completed text, but have we received it? Better yet, have we read it? Do we grasp it, and how will we respond?
The text message God has sent to us is a simple message. First, it is a message of love, in which God does not just casually express His love as one might text another saying., “luv u.” Rather, he has demonstrated the sincerity of His love through His Son Jesus Christ, who He gave Himself for us.
Second, God’s text declares “I care about you.” In 1 Peter 5:7 we are exhorted, “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Our care is our worries, fears, frustrations and discouragements. The fact that God cares for us means that He is interested in us. The things that cause us concern are also of concern to Him. Though some may doubt it, God really is concerned about our spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being.
In this world of woe where we experience so much hurt, many question as to whether God even knows who they are, or where they live. They question as to why God allows adverse things to happen as He does.
If questions plague your mind and leave you feeling worried and stressed, read God’s text message; because in it you will find the peace that we are all looking for. Make a concentrated effort to grasp the meaning of His text because in it, you will find He offers His peace which surpasses all human understanding. It is not peace like the world offers rather it is the true peace of God.
Jerry L. Dunn is pastor of Oak Street Baptist Church in Kingman.
