Loss Of Signal

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ne of the most harrowing moments of manned flights to the moon were those known simply as LOS or Loss of Signal!  I remember the news commentators speaking about this phenomenon and displaying a countdown clock, informing the viewing audience of the number of minutes left until all communication with the astronauts would be lost. 

Due to the spacecraft’s traveling around the dark side of the moon, all communication was lost.  As long as the astronauts remained in view of earth, they had a direct communication link with Mission Control on the ground.  Once behind the moon, however, all signals were lost and communication was impossible until the capsule emerged on the other side of the moon.

As an avid follower and supporter of America’s space program, I watched with baited breath and keen interest every televised second of the manned trips to the moon.  When the astronauts disappeared on the far side of the moon, I began to panic and worry about their well being.  Were they scared?  Had something gone wrong?  Were they all right?  What were they doing up there?  What could they see? How did they feel cut off from everyone and everything?  These were the thoughts that raced through my mind.  I couldn’t take my eyes off the television until the space craft emerged from behind the moon and communications were restored.

Loss of Signal had everything to do with position.  Radio waves can travel through the black emptiness of space but they cannot penetrate celestial objects, especially one the size of the moon.  In order for the astronauts to receive updates on their mission and vital information concerning the condition of the craft and any adjustments to be made for the return voyage, they had to have an unobstructed view of the earth.  The lines of communication had to be direct and clear with no interference and no obstacles between the space capsule and earth.

Would it surprise you to learn that long before space travel was even a passing thought, Jesus had already addressed the Loss of Signal phenomenon?  Jesus however was not concerned with losing contact with a radio transmitter; he was concerned with losing contact with God and His work.  Jesus spoke of this contact in terms of faith because what radio signals are to ground control and a spacecraft, faith is to the believer in maintaining his relationship with God.

During a visit to his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus encountered much resistance from the people of his village.  The following statement from Matthew 13:58 demonstrates how the people of Jesus hometown experienced a complete Loss of Signal with the Lord.  “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”  We need look no further than the last three words of this passage to understand how these people experienced a Loss of Signal! 

Jesus did not perform many miracles in his hometown because the people had no faith.  We must exercise faith in Jesus if we are to maintain full and unobstructed contact with God.  It is through faith that we come to God, that we please God, that we obey God, and that we relate to God.  The problem with the people of Nazareth was doubt. 

They allowed the obstacles of tradition, experience, and circumstances to dominate their thinking.  They had known Jesus from childhood and would not believe he could perform miracles or that he was the Messiah.  Because of their lack of faith, Jesus did few miracles and the people were deprived of a great blessing and opportunity for ministry.

We need to take strong warning from this short passage of scripture.  It is not necessary for us to travel far away from our familiar surroundings to experience a Loss of Signal!  When we allow the every-day obstacles of fear, doubt, pride, arrogance, and bad experiences to come between us and God we lose heart.  Our faith dwindles and we find ourselves adrift in an empty void with our communication lines garbled.  What we need is to change our position so we are in continual communication with our Heavenly Father.  As long as we receive directions from Mission Control we will find ourselves on the correct path to complete the work God has given us to do.

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re you in constant communication with God today?  Is your spiritual antenna trimmed to His signal?  When He sends instructions concerning an area of your life that needs attention are you in a position to hear Him and correct your course?  Are you successfully charting the vast regions of your life by always receiving information from your Heavenly Father?  Is there anything between you and Him that is causing Loss of Signal today?