Colossians 1:20
What an incredible, technological world we live in, but does
it come with a high price tag in our relationships? We are being warned that our youth are losing social skills
because they spend so little time in face-to-face conversation. It has been reported that young people
are sitting together at gatherings, but instead of talking with each other they
will text message a friend sitting next to them. It’s not just the younger generation all of us have become
addicted to cell phones and the Internet.
It gives instant satisfaction, but it also opens up our life to all
kinds of people. In our desire to
have constant communication, we have allowed our time to be stolen by
others.
Yes, it is an incredible world and the technology is great, but
it comes with a price; no longer do we come home from work or school, and spend
time with the family. No longer do
we go to a ball game and not have this intrusive thing with us. Last night we enjoyed the theater with
some out of town guests and were asked to turn off our cell phones before the
performance began. One hour later
at intermission, the first thing many sitting around us did was turn on their
cell phone. Do we believe we are
that important, or have we become addicted to this technology? What have we lost, or what have we
given up in this world of instant communication? What about peace?
Peace, freedom from disturbance, quiet and tranquility, do
we know that peace, or has this wonderful technology taken us captive? What value do you put on being
free from anxiety or distress?
Verse 20 states that Christ Jesus made peace by the blood of his
cross. Jesus tells His disciples
that He is going home and that He is going to send to them the Holy Spirit to
lead them into all truth, but He has another gift for them and us before
leaving. This is what Jesus said; “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the
world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them
be afraid.” (John 14:27)
The world we live in should remove the word peace from its
dictionary, it is more about fear, war, hate, distrust, terror; we live in a
world filled with apprehension and the anticipation of danger. I need a place of refuge to run to in
the middle of the storm and that is the promise made to us by Christ. John 16:33, “I
have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation. But take heart; I
have overcome the world.”
It is impossible to find what you have never looked for, but
if you stop, turn off the phone, leave the Internet and seek first the kingdom
of God, you will find in Christ the peace your heart is longing for.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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