Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" Acts 26:24
There have been times I've been convinced that too much access to information online can drive a person crazy. A few days ago I was bitten by some sort of insect. It must have happened in my sleep as I noticed it when I got up in the morning. My arm had a large red bump on it. I didn't really think anything of it and wore long sleeves all day long. At the end of the day I took a shower and got ready for bed. Upon closer inspection I saw the red bump now had a squiggly red line coming out of it. I mentally panicked a bit, but decided I should try to google some info to see if my life was in danger. I couldn't find a good picture that matched my description, but I was pretty sure I must have been bitten by a brown recluse spider and my arm was in the process of rotting away. The funny thing is that I've only seen one tiny harmless spider in our months of living at this house. It's odd how the one deadly spider decided to attack me while in bed.
Jeff was in bed sleeping soundly at this point. Thankfully I had enough common sense not to head directly to the ER. I took my flashlight into the dark bedroom and woke him up and made him look at my arm. He thought the squiggly line appeared to be on the surface of my skin. I thought he was just too tired to care and wanted to go back to sleep. I decided I would wait until morning before heading to the hospital. Of course it was nothing and all signs of "necrosis" were gone by the time morning arrived.
This incident reminded me how Abby once had a very high fever. I googled her symptoms and was certain she had bacterial meningitis. Ahh, the power of the internet. It can diagnose our symptoms and convince us we are dying.
In spite of my falters, I still want to keep my hope in my Savior, the Great Physician. He is the one who controls our destiny and our health. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
In Paul's case, too much study of God's Word had not made him crazy. The foolishness of the Gospel made him appear so to unbelieving Festus. If I'm going to be called crazy I want it to be because of the God I serve and my faith in His Word. The foolishness of the Gospel message appears crazy to those around us with blinded eyes. Oh that someday they will see the truth clearly.
Oh I have done that - Sometimes Dr Google is wonderful, othertimes - not so much.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right - we can't have too much knowledge of God's Word, and looking foolish to the world because of the Gospel actually is a blessing and a testimony of God's redeeming grace at work in our lives.