Thursday, January 23, 2014

special delivery










Unnoticed, but more unappreciated by us, is a system that we live and sometimes die by.  A system so reliable, that we hardly notice it, except when it doesn’t work-the US Postal System, or the Post Office.  Yeah, that one, the one that delivers millions of packages and letters per day, and manages to only lose millions of dollars, tax dollars daily in doing it. Now compare that with FedEx or UPS, who handles millions of packages per day, but still manages to pay dividends to its stock holders, instead of draining more dollars from its stockholders like the USPS, we being the stockholders.  Proving once again private enterprise works best and that it isn’t sinful to make a profit.  But have you seen both rates lately...whatever happened to the 2 cent stamp?  Maybe it was technology, I remember working at a Sears receiving platform, and UPS delivering everyday.  25 to over 100 boxes at once, each number handwritten on a sheet, then signed for before they were considered received.  Contrast that to today, where the miracle of barcoding makes it easier and faster-just one sweep of a wand and it is delivered, or at least dropped off.  Case in point happened a few years back when I ordered something for Theresa via FedEx.  It was to be a surprise, which ended up on me, as she happened to stop home, and the FedEx man gave her the box.  I had been tracking it, and when it didn’t show, I called them, they remembered our barking dog, but still no package.  It was days later when she went to surprise me that she found out it was a gift for her.  Maybe the system does work better than expected, just keep human contact out of the equation.
But these delivery companies continue to amaze me, and I can prove it.  Our Post Office is the one that went postal, yet the next day the mail was being delivered again.  And last Christmas I ordered a DVD, that was sent out via UPS, but ended up being delivered by the Post Office, all the way down to the tracking.  Amazing two companies working together like that-and one a leisure activity of the Federal Government.  But the system still is flawed, when living in Colorado, I was 27 miles from town, yet we got daily mail delivered, even when we got 4’ of new snow.  Yet when moving into we only had a PO box, no in town delivery available.  And proving what weenies we were, complaining when we had to go out to get it, after calling ahead to see what was in our box, mixed in with the perfectly spindled, mangled, mutilated, and shredded magazines.  Oh how the poor mailmen must have hated it when it was Life or Time magazine day each week long ago, and how they really must love delivering here all the cycle and old car magazines I subscribe to.  Which now that they are downsized, seem to fit better in our little box.  And I think of friends in high school working at the local post office, and stealing porno books and films, no one fooled by the plain brown wrappers, and doing it with no reprisal, as who was going to admit to not getting the porn they ordered?  Mystery solved for any of you after 40 years? 
And yes, I have gotten UPS boxes with footprints on them, good thing they were marked FRAGILE!  I still get an occasional letter addressed to my father, who is dead.  I just write on it “not at this address,” let them figure it out.  And I am about to practice an old trick from MAD magazine from the 60’s.  They came out with a sticker that said “No one named occupant lives at this address.”  Now imagine if we all put out stickers like that, would it solve junk mail or just reroute it?  And I have been practicing for years an old Andy Rooney trick to stop the junk mail with free postage paid envelopes inside, except I use it for good.  I enclose a tract about who Jesus is, and the postage is free.  And the gospel goes out...try it, you may be as surprised in heaven how this little trick has worked.  And so the post office, UPS, and FedEx deliver better than we would like to admit.  Be it guns, ammo, porno, tracts, or love letters, they deliver.  But the one thing they cannot deliver is salvation, it takes a God who is able to deliver that which no man can earn, a free gift from heaven.  It is amazing the things God does deliver.  He delivers us from evil.  He delivers our enemies and then destroys them.  He delivered the Midianites into the hands of Gideon.  He delivered the Jews from Egypt and captivity.  He delivered them out of the hands of the Philistines, and He delivers us out of the hand of the evil one.  Some 253 times in the New King James Version God delivers.  But the best delivery, the one most desired, but least expected was sending Jesus, a rather special delivery.  After hours.  And one who would change the world...even unto His birthday being celebrated at Christmas, causing more deliveries than ever before.  And if UPS can deliver overnight, imagine what He can do for you today?  And now with daily delivery drones, His timing is still better, His rate 100%, and He has yet to lose a package yet.  With a simple system caused salvation, and He comes to you!  Since we wouldn’t go to Him.  So unique, so simple, yet so many try to add to it, and are never delivered.  When it was so easy with just Jesus.  No additional postage, no lost in tracking, and no weather delays.  God never fails...do we take His system of love and mercy for granted?
Looking to be delivered from this present evil age?  Try Jesus.  The only way out, and He never addresses anyone as Occupant.  He doesn’t read your mail, nor disclose any correspondence in prayer to others.  And when His letters, the Bible are read, they change lives.  He is able to deliver us from our temptations, and we don’t have to wait in line for the next available window.  His window is always open, are you?  Are you willing to try and trust His delivery?  He was just in time at the cross, and He is still on time today.  And when others deliver into evil hands to be tried, He even gives you the words to say at that time.  He is 100% God, and always on time.  No one else, no government, no delivery company can claim Jesus’ record of accuracy.  So what are you waiting for?
He is the answer to the question in Romans, who will deliver me from the wretched body?  And He still delivers us from death today.  Special delivery...and you don’t have to open the mail to get it...just  open our heart.  Which He has sealed to deliver you from evil.  One simple word, one simple transaction, one simple relationship.  Let Jesus deliver you today.  For God so loved the world, He delivers, for you.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com