The Smart Phone vs God

Happy Sunday. I spent several hours this week in a waiting room. My brother-in-law had eye surgery, and I was his transportation. If you spend much time in waiting rooms, you're likely to notice who was there before you and who came in after you. Did you keep track to make sure that you are in to see the doctor before for those who came in behind you?

One thing that really stuck out to me was how people are slaves to their phones. Thursday morning I counted 16 people in the waiting room. 14 were on their devices. None of them was on a call; they were all surfing the web or checking mail or Facebook. It made me long for the days of old magazines to read, or actually talking to the people sitting nearby.

I sat there and kept my phone in my pocket. I prayed to God that I would not be like the others. Don't get me wrong, I, I know you have to conduct business, and I know you have work to do. However, all the time?

I found some disturbing statistics, and let me share just a few. The average person checks their phone at least every 10 to 12 minutes, are approximately 80 to 100 times a day. Almost two-thirds of children spend four hours or more per day on their smartphones. Teenagers spend an average of nine hours a day on their smartphones. There were no teenagers in the waiting room; it was all adults on theirs.

It's frightening in Atlanta to see how many people are driving with a phone in their hand. Georgia has a law against it. It's horribly dangerous. What's the problem?

I'm sure you've been in a restaurant and seen people at a table all on their phones, never saying a word to each other. We are distracted always, it seems. I, I've been guilty of turning on a TV or music just for noise when I walk into a room. Haven't you? So what's wrong with the quiet?

Does the Bible say anything about the quiet? Psalm 46:10 tells us, "Be still and know that I am God. I'm exalted among the nations; I'm exalted in the earth." As I sat in that waiting room, I was thankful for being keenly aware of the presence of God.

Psalm 119:37 teaches about priorities. There the psalmist wrote, "Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word." Don't you think that's a great prayer? "Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word."

As I was preparing this message, I thought about Moses and a pivotal moment in his life, a pivotal moment in history. You may know this story. It's from Exodus chapter 3. Let me read from that chapter.

"Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led his flock beyond the wilderness and came to Mount Horeb, the great mountain of God. While there, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush. Moses looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. So Moses said, 'I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.'

"When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, 'Moses, Moses.' And Moses replied, 'Here I am.' And then God said, 'Come no closer. Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you were standing is holy ground.' He said further, 'I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God."

I shared that story with you because I'm glad that Moses didn't have a cell phone. It's likely he could have missed, missed out on this world-changing encounter with God. Now think about it: isn't it likely that God is showing signs to make people see the right way, and the people are so distracted that they miss the burning bushes that are right before them? I think it happens all too often.

I hope this message was helpful. Honestly, I think it was for me. I aim to unplug more. God bless you as you seek the quiet.

Pray with me. Lord, forgive us of the distractions that we choose. I think if this world was in your word more than they were on their phones, well, I know it'd be a different world. What about us, your believers, your children? How are we?

Help us to get our priorities straight, and to long for the quiet, and hear the still small voice of our God. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Thanks for joining me. God bless. Have a great week.