A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers   

Psalm 78:41, “Yea, they turned their back and tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel.” Evangelist Billy Walked once told a story about the city fathers of New York as they contemplated the future growth of the city. They laid out the streets and numbered them from the center outward. When they began, there were only six or seven streets.  In their planning maps, they projected how large they thought the city might grow. Reaching beyond their wildest imagination, they drew streets on the map all the way out to 19th street.  They called it “Boundary Street” because they were sure that’s all the larger New York City would become. But history has proven them to be shortsighted. At the last count, the city had reached 271st Street—far exceeding their expectations. How shortsighted we can be as human-beings. But our lack of vision, I believe, is related to our overwhelming preponderance to live in the natural realm within which we are so accustom. In our Scripture lesson today, the Psalmist reflects upon the exodus experienced by Israel from Egypt and subsequent unbelief that marked their 40 year wilderness wanderings and eventually thwarted the entrance of all over 20 years old—save Caleb and Joshua—into the Promised Land. In spite of the myriad of supernatural provisions afforded them freely by the Lord—manna from heaven, water from a rock, clothes that never tattered, deliverance from enemy armies, and many others—they constrained Him through unbelief. They, as so many, consigned God to the restrictions of a natural, earthly realm, instead of affording Him the unlimited expanse His omnipotence so justly deserves. So, my friend, where is your “Boundary Street?” Where are the limits you envision—within the scope of your natural vision, or in a realm far greater where “all things are possible?” Move beyond “19th Street” into the unlimited possibilities that are awaiting you with this new day.