Apparently, according to scientist, 66 million years ago there was a gigantic (6-mile wide) comet/astroid which struck the earth in the ocean near Mexico. The result of this impact was devastating on the earth, destroying plant life, ocean life, and bringing about the extinction of the dinosaurs. Other factors contributed to this event of extinction, including climate variations over the previous million years or so say the scientists. The impact created a crater, known as Chicxulub, about 110 miles wide in the Caribbean, off the coast of Mexico, just north of the Yucatan Peninsula.
The effects of time and technology have unmoored some terms or expressions we still use today, but make no sense within the context of their original meaning. Here are some classic examples:
- “dial the phone” was the expression for physically sticking your finger in the rotary dial in a sequence of numbers to place a call on rotary phones. It’s comic to me how many people don’t even have a “land line” and their cell phones don’t dial at all, but they still use this term.
- “cc” used in an email means to “copy” another person, but originally was used for “carbon copy” when placing carbon paper between two sheets of paper into a typewriter. When was the last time you used a typewriter?
- “like a broken record” was that moment when the record album was scratched or damaged in such a way that the needle wouldn’t follow the grooves, and repeated the same few seconds of music over and over monotonously until it was stopped.
While some still use record players today, and their old albums, the term still really doesn’t apply in the digital world of music. - “going off half cocked” was used in the era of single-action revolvers and flintlock pistols. You know what this means, even thought you’ve never fired either of these weapons.
- “watch” became “pocket watch” when the “wristwatch” was invented; which is now an “analog watch” when it’s not digital. (clockwise and counterclockwise mean nothing to children who can’t tell time on an analog clock)
I could go on, but you get my point. At some point the terminology we use doesn’t match the technology we embrace to function as human beings. The terms seem archaic, and stilted, yet we use them because they are familiar to us, and keep us moored, like an anchor to our past.
As we wrestle with the uncertainty of the future, and the unknown nature of what is just around the corner for our world, it is important that people of faith in Jesus around the world hold fast. Time and technology change the way we exist in this world. Political systems and sovereign nations will always be at war whether physically, or digitally. We know for certain, that the unseen forces of the heavenly places work to destroy our lives and God’s creation. So hold fast this truth.
Hebrews 6:19-20
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
While in danger of becoming extinct, true believers need to hold fast, not becoming unmoored by the circumstances, or fiery trials around them.
Hold fast! Jesus is your soul’s anchor!
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As I was saying... 