I worked in the Boeing Everett Factory (Washington State) for three years. One day, as I driving to work, the fog was so thick that I could barely see out of my car window. I had a parking pass that allowed me to park inside the gates, so I proceeded through security and then headed in the direction I thought I was supposed to go. The fog was so heavy that I didn’t have any point of reference to make my way to the parking area near the huge factory building. I quickly became disoriented. I continued to drive in the direction I thought I was supposed to go.
Suddenly, there in front of my vehicle was the nose of a huge airplane. My heart began to race as I struggled to get my bearings. Where was I? Had I wandered onto the runway area? The plane engine wasn’t running, so I at least had that going for me. The one thing I did know was that I was someplace that I was not supposed to be! I panicked as I envisioned alarms going off, and vehicles with flashing lights surrounding me. I had to get out of here quick!
I turned my car around and headed back towards the direction I had come from. The fog was still blocking my view. I wondered how in the world I couldn’t see the huge factory building that was normally my fixed point of reference.
According to Webster, a point of reference is something that is used to judge or understand something else. A “fixed point of reference,” is something that does not move. It is constant, unchanging.
The problem for me on that day was that I had lost sight of that huge, unmoving building. Something was blocking my view. Something that I had no control over!
I began to cry out to the Lord to help me in my time of need.
Seemingly out of nowhere, I saw a row of lights shining dimly in the fog. I headed towards them. As I drew a little closer I could see the outline of the factory building. I breathed a sigh of relief and sent up a quick prayer of thankfulness. The Lord had heard and answered my call of distress and delivered me to safety.
God has provided us with a fixed point of reference in His Word, in Himself, the Holy Spirit and through His son, Jesus Christ. At times, we lose sight of that point. Perhaps life becomes overwhelming and we get consumed by it, or we adapt our views to the culture that surrounds us, because it takes too much energy to fight it…whatever the reason is, we lose focus of “the rock” that anchors us, guides us, and keeps us on track.
Do you find yourself obsessing on certain thoughts that are robbing you of your peace of mind? Have you allowed your belief system to shift because it is easier? Take time to adjust the lens of your telescope so that it zooms back in on our fixed point of reference, Jesus Christ. Cry out to Him and He will answer you in your time of distress. He will clear up the fog and cause the light to shine through.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrews 12:1-3
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
