Always In Service

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ou can see them everywhere at the university.  In fact, they are so common that if you don’t look twice you will walk right by them and not even know they are there.  Everywhere on campus, it seems, these little blue towers stand guard over the student body, always at the ready to lend a helping hand and put them in direct contact with the police in the event of an emergency.

The little towers are more noticeable at night when a blue light near the top illuminates and all the towers begin to glow, bringing a sense of safety and security to those walking the campus at night.  However, there is one tower I pass each morning that is distinctly different from the rest.  In addition to its blue color and its lamp, this tower also bears a swatch of brown and that swatch makes all the difference.

The swatch is a piece of cardboard with a message scribbled across it. The message simply reads, “Not In Service.”  Now, I ask you, how effective is that tower going to be should someone require immediate assistance?  It stands ready, but it is incapable of rendering aid of any kind in the event of an emergency.  The tower cannot be relied upon and therefore is of no help.

In Psalm 46, David reminds us that God is always in service.  He is always standing by, ready to help us when we need it; and we need it all the time.  Psalm 46: 1 reads, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.“  Who better than David to remind us of this truth?  David knew what it was to depend on God as a refuge.  He also knew God to be a constant source of help in times of trouble.  David had many troubles in his life and he also had many enemies, but he had learned to depend on the One who offered shelter and safety in the middle of life’s crises.

Do you find yourself in need of help today?  Do you need refuge from the world around you and are you running low in strength?  Look for God’s blue tower.  You probably have several of them lying around your house or gathering dust on coffee tables or bookshelves.  Pick up His word, open its pages. By doing so, you place yourself in direct contact with the one who knows you best and can help you the most.  He is always in service, ready, willing, and able to come to your aid at a moment’s notice.  So have you visited the little blue tower lately?  Perhaps it’s time you did.