Headlines Make Me Think, Then Make a Spiritual Application

“Read all about it… Get your paper here…!” We’ve seen and heard this line in movies, literature, and perhaps in real life. “Breaking news, here,” the teaser that will grab our attention as the red-lettered banner floats across the computer screen. Then the words unveil the object of interest. A headline tries to draw you in. Why? Well, whoever is drawing is hoping you will read, true, but there are advertiser dollars associated with most everything broadcasted. The more paying attention? The higher they can charge for advertising.

Inevitably we are tempted and drawn into the newscaster’s web. News aggregators show the same story from multiple sources. There’s nothing new here that is not found over there. It’s a rehashing from one news source utilizing a different source to say the same thing, only with their voice and advertisers.

Still, hidden in the morass of headlines screaming for my attention, this thought arose. Long before the headline, some symptoms led to its attention-grabbing moment. Immediately, people seem surprised and then angered at the result. But the diagnosis is clear, and the symptoms are recognized too late.

Consider The Headlines

Headline: “Texas was “seconds and minutes” away from catastrophic months-long blackouts”

Okay. It’s not all caps, nor does it scream with bold words, but it is captivating. Seconds and minutes. Catastrophic. Months-long. Blackouts.

I swirled on by, and another headline, similar in style, told me of a major insurance company that lost connection to the entire company due to unprecedented weather in the north. Immediately I remembered my “disaster planning and recovery” days of IT. How can this happen in these modern times? Back then, we planned, tested, repaired the plan, and tested again. We even went to the remote data center and pretended to bring the company back online.

I’ve been in communication with people close to both situations. Disasters!

How can this happen? Potential Loss of Life! Did we learn anything? Can we prevent a future reoccurrence? What were the symptoms that we should have caught? Why were we blindsided by this? How could we not know what could happen?

Here’s My Thought

I tweeted this thought as I was thinking this morning through and comparing what I was seeing to a spiritual condition.

Symptoms. Diagnosis. Result? A weakened walk with God that leaves you vulnerable to the enemy and yourself. How do we address this? Can we be restored? What do we do?

The Apostle Paul analyzes deeply the effect of the Law on his life, and the freedom of the Spirit, but a phrase pops out.

O wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
(Romans 7:24 NKJV)

At some point in the situation, symptoms pop up. Diagnosis is reviewed, and finally, one is proposed. Corrective actions need to be applied. How quickly do we respond? How quickly might the end show up? Since we do not know what is on the horizon, it’s best to respond now…

Again, Paul writes to the same audience.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
(Romans 13:11-14 NKJV)

Now is The Time, Here is the Place

I have this quote rumbling through my mind, and I know it’s not exactly right, but the sentiment is this.

There’s no place like this place.
So this must place must be the place.

There’s no time like this time.
So this time must be the time.

Bishop Franklin Jones

Before disaster strikes, can you assure your soul’s status? Sure. They symptoms are there, and the diagnosis is proposed. A weakened state needs to be strengthened. This is your place. Now is your time.