DOING IT IN THE DARK
Pastor Mike asked us if we have experienced total darkness. I have. I did a college internship at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY. I was given the responsibility of testing a newly designed machine made to age 35mm motion picture film. What they were trying to accomplish was by applying heat, humidity and time for up to 3 hours to duplicate in days or weeks the results of the condition of the same film type that had been in storage vaults for years. This machine produced all the conditions internally within its closed system, but the new, unexposed film had to be installed in total darkness--not the red light of the developing lab but TOTAL darkness. The film case was light-tight and could only be opened in the room with all lights off.
I had to manually open the case, find the end of the film, attach the leader in the machine to the end of the 1000-foot reel of film by stapling the ends together, make sure the film went into the machine properly and start the process in total darkness. When the lead end of the film was nearly finished coming out of the machine at the prescribed time, it was cut off the leader and attached to an empty reel for capture. There was another 2-minute period while the film was still processing, another leader was attached to the trail end of the film and run completely through the machine to complete the process and provide a leader for the next roll. All this was done in the dark! I had to train on how to operate in the dark moving from end to end of the machine and most of all where to place the tools used so that I could find them. Misplacing necessary items meant possibly a failed test and a day’s work could be ruined.
The training had to be done in the light to practice and visualize the location of all aspects of the procedures necessary to complete the task. We have been given the Scriptures and teachers to instruct us on how to operate when it is “dark.”
If I lie down, I say, 'When will I arise?', and the night stretches on and I toss and turn restlessly until the day dawns. Job 7:4 NET
Trouble can take our eyes off biblical truth and on to self.
We must learn and utilize the power of God in our every day lives in good times and in our trials. It is hard to learn during a trial. That is when it is time to recall and activate the promises that you have learned.
The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord. Lam 3:25-26 NET
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of
his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you
out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 NET
By the power of the Spirit, we can confidently take our next steps (Ps. 119:105).
I had to manually open the case, find the end of the film, attach the leader in the machine to the end of the 1000-foot reel of film by stapling the ends together, make sure the film went into the machine properly and start the process in total darkness. When the lead end of the film was nearly finished coming out of the machine at the prescribed time, it was cut off the leader and attached to an empty reel for capture. There was another 2-minute period while the film was still processing, another leader was attached to the trail end of the film and run completely through the machine to complete the process and provide a leader for the next roll. All this was done in the dark! I had to train on how to operate in the dark moving from end to end of the machine and most of all where to place the tools used so that I could find them. Misplacing necessary items meant possibly a failed test and a day’s work could be ruined.
The training had to be done in the light to practice and visualize the location of all aspects of the procedures necessary to complete the task. We have been given the Scriptures and teachers to instruct us on how to operate when it is “dark.”
If I lie down, I say, 'When will I arise?', and the night stretches on and I toss and turn restlessly until the day dawns. Job 7:4 NET
Trouble can take our eyes off biblical truth and on to self.
We must learn and utilize the power of God in our every day lives in good times and in our trials. It is hard to learn during a trial. That is when it is time to recall and activate the promises that you have learned.
The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord. Lam 3:25-26 NET
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of
his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you
out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 NET
By the power of the Spirit, we can confidently take our next steps (Ps. 119:105).
by Gregg McKinney, Chairman of the Deacon Board
Posted in Faith Blogs
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