A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers   

Psalm 139:7, “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”  A man decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started in Los Angeles and headed east. Going to a large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He noticed a golden telephone on the wall in the fellowship room with a sign above it that read $10,000 per minute.  Curious, he found the pastor and questioned him about it. The pastor told him it was a direct line to Heaven and if he paid the price he could talk to God. The man thanked the pastor and left. He moved on and visited churches in Seattle, Dallas, Denver, St. Louis, and Chicago, finding more phones with the same signs and the same answers from the pastor.  Finally he arrived in Kentucky. Upon entering a church, he saw the usual golden telephone. But this time the sign above it read 35 cents per minute. Fascinated, he talked to the pastor, telling about all the other golden phones he had seen in other churches in other cities, about how he had been told it was a direct line to Heaven and how he could talk to God for $10,000 per minute, but here the charge was only 35 cents per minute. How can this be? The pastor smiled and replied, “Son, you’re in Kentucky now—it’s a local call.”  That’s a humorous story but with a powerful message.  Is Kentucky the place closest to Heaven?  Being born and raised here I may think so, but the fact is, wherever you are right now—not just geographically, but circumstantially, God is within reach.  Notice our Scripture lesson today.  David asked a question that can be summed up like this:  “God, where could I go and be hidden from you?”  He concludes no place—for God is ever-present with us.  Where does this day find you?  Facing a medical crisis?  An economic challenge?  A personal struggle?  Relationship problems?  Wherever you are, God is there—and it’s a local call.  He loves you.  Look to Him today and you will find the strength, peace and comfort you need for each new day.