The Right Connections
by Brandy Webb
My husband works in the sat-com industry. The company he works for builds satellite antennas. It is very technical, and honestly, the majority of what he does goes way above my head. However, one night when we were discussing our days, a thought came to my mind that the industry he works in actually has a Christian analogy/lesson.
Antennas are useless if they don’t connect to the correct satellite. It has to link to the correct satellite in order to send and receive information, and there are a lot of satellites out there orbiting the earth. So, a lot of technical things have to work correctly for the antenna to find the right satellite. It has to be well equipped with all the right parts and software in order to work properly.
This idea of an antenna having to locate the correct satellite out of a couple thousand satellites in order to send and receive the right information got me to thinking about us as Christians. In order for us to “send and receive” true information, we need to be linked to the correct source, God. There are a lot of distractions around us, though, that are vying for our attention. We have to be on our guard and make sure that we are paying attention to what we are connected to because “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Satan and his minions are around trying to disrupt our connection with God. Think of them as the unwanted “satellites” that our “antennas” should not connect to. In order to keep ourselves well equipped “for every good work,” we must make sure that we are connected to God through prayer, His Word, and through the edification of each other (2 Timothy 3:17). James teaches us to “submit to God” and “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
God the Father and our Savior Jesus Christ are the only “satellites” that can send us true information, correct information, the right information. We know from the Scriptures that God’s Word is “a lamp unto [our] feet and a light unto [our] path” (119:105). Keeping ourselves “linked” to God will keep us on course, leading us to our final destination, God’s Kingdom. Therefore, let us diligently strive to keep ourselves working properly by making for sure that our focus is on God, and let us also help each other in our walks.
17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh (Jude 1: 17-23).
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25).