Long Distance Communication

As I was telling my sister Lois about “Skyping” with our son Jonathan who is currently studying in Costa Rica, she reminded me of the futuristic cartoon series we used to watch as kids, “The Jetsons.”  In “The Jetsons” the people of the future were able to speak to each other via television-like contraptions within their homes.  For them long distance communication was no big deal.  For us, however, that was something that would be only in the far, far future.  Guess what?  The future is here! 

I know that for some who are younger and who may not remember life before PC’s, laptops, or cell phones, “Skyping”, emailing, “Facebooking”, texting, etc. may be no big deal.  But, I still remember when a call from our home in Rockland County, NY to my grandmother who lived in Manhattan was a “long distance” call.  Yet, even I have become so used to such quick and easy long distance communication that I can’t imagine not being able to communicate with my friends in places as far away as Australia and Nicaragua at just the touch of a button.  For us today, long distance communication is something we can’t help but take for granted. 

I’m reminded, however, that there is an even better means of long distance communication that is available to us, better than any that we have created.  And, it is one that has been available to us since the beginning of time.  It is prayer. 

The Psalmist wrote, “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2 – NIV) The Psalmist understood the wonderful privilege of communicating with the Lord of heaven and earth.  He was amazed that when he prayed, God actually heard him and answered him.  He saw it as a great privilege to experience such incredible long distance communication.   

As wonderful as all of our current long distance communication may be, have you considered how incredible it is that we get to communicate with the God of the universe—the One who lives far outside the realm of our world?  Through prayer, you and I can experience a communication that takes us right into the presence of God.  He hears us and he answers us as we call upon his name.  That’s some great long distance communication!

Have a great day!

-Pastor Tim Harris