Here in North Carolina where I am privileged to reside, we recently lost the oldest living veteran in our country. He was African American Robert Hodges of Pamlico County.
Just one day short of veteran`s day, he died at Craven Regional Medical Center in New Bern, NC. Hodges served in the army in World War I. Officials say there is some question as to Hodges` exact age, but the most reliable records showed him to be close to 114-years-old.
We who have lived even half that time cannot begin to imagine what his eyes had seen come to pass.
I remember the Blair (Oklahoma) Enterprise newspaper back in the 60's.
At the Enterprise, I was a young newspaperman who was alternately editor, sportswriter, and ad salesman. It also fell my lot to arrive at work at 4:30 a.m. to light the furnaces which would melt blocks of metal for the day so we could print a newspaper later in the day! The metal was used for both typesetting and for pictures. Back then, we thought that was the ultimate in publishing genius.
For sure, at the close of each week, we had earned our $75 check, for we were technological geniuses!
Now, by God's infinite grace, I have lived long enough to enjoy and be amazed by the computer age (and even that has moved forward by leaps and bounds from its inception).
If the Bible is true and I believe it is, then we cannot even begin to conceive of all that God has for us. Allowing even for the small story above, consider both testaments:
Isaiah 64:4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waited for him.
(Whole Chapter: Isaiah 64 In context: Isaiah 64:3-5)
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
So many of you who read this could tell such quips as I have. Whatever our age, we have been given the gift of life and along with that came this amazing Technicolor sport called progress. I see it as one of God's greatest gifts.
Just when we feel we have come to the ultimate in life, design, technology, etc., God surprises us with even more knowledge and insight. How marvelous are His ways of siphoning off just enough to make us thrill in our hearts at how wise we surely must be. Then, His time passes and suddenly we arrive at something even better.
Believe me, that's what I am counting on.
