LightGrams
June 22, 2017
Volume 21, Number 21
His Twitter handle is “Just Basic Dave”. That’s all I can tell you about this man, other than the practical joke he pulled last week at the Miami International Airport.
Dave ordered stickers that resemble electrical outlets from Amazon. He placed one of them on a column in the airport waiting area, suggesting that a real outlet could be found there. If you’ve flown much, you know such outlets are sought out by travelers who need to recharge their cell phones before boarding their flight.
Video was taken of one unlucky power-seeker. She tried a few times to plug in her charger before realizing she had been duped. We’re left to wonder what happened after she discovered the outlet was fake.
Many have been deceived into seeking power where there is none. Consider this man’s search: “I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards … I acquired male and female servants … I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me … I became great and excelled more than all who were before me … I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure” (Ecclesiastes 2:4-10).
The writer (almost certainly Solomon, though he does not identify himself) then stepped back to evaluate his labors: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
Most people search for power for their lives in the very places this man wrote about. If his experience is relevant, there are people who are doomed to conclude, as he did, that “All is vanity”. What’s the purpose of living if our best efforts are in vain?
The writer of Ecclesiastes did not end his book without some positive lessons. His final words sum up what everyone needs to know: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14).
The stickers placed in the Miami airport didn’t fool for long; there were no slots into which chargers could be plugged. A few seconds, and the hoax was realized.
Satan, however, holds many in deception for a lifetime. It will be too late when his victims realize that there was no power to be found in his outlets.
Here is what Jesus offers: “… I have come that they may have life” (John 10:10).
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2017, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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