Laughter is good medicine (ask anyone) and I enjoy a funny story. With the technology age we are in, it seems that everyday I find a smile or two from reading the forwarded email funnies sent by friends and co-workers. I don’t usually have as much appreciation for the jokes made in reference to national origin, gender or hair color. So the day a message came across my screen depicting the differences between men and women at ATM machines – I did the token “yuck yuck” and hit the delete key. I’m the first to admit there are great differences in “how” men and women think and relate, but I’d much rather find humor in human stupidity (in general) rather than which gender has less of it.
It was probably only a few days after the yuck-yuck message that I paid a visit to my neighborhood bank. It was after hours and I pulled into the drive up teller machine. You would think that with all the government regulations – they would make it mandatory for all ATM’s to work the same. I slid in my card, repositioning it until the machine finally consumed it, and entered my PIN (personal identification number). The withdrawal was made quickly and I took my money. As I pulled away, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the screen flashing: “Do you want to make another transaction?” Whoa! I backed up – pressed NO and then across the screen came the message, “Please Take Your Card”. That was close. Relieved, I pressed on the accelerator and shot backward (fortunately, there was no one behind me). Putting the car back into a forward gear, I proceeded away from the demon machine, all the while, remembering the ATM email story and wondering if I had cursed myself by reading it.
This had not been my first run-in with Automatic “Terror” Machines. I have had my PIN rejected, my magnetic stripe demagnetized and the dreaded “Denied” message. There are several reasons you can get the old “Denied” message – one of which is trying to take out more money in a 24 hour period than you are allowed. Like the day I had a cart full of groceries… which was the same day, many miles away on a business trip, my husband had withdrawn enough money, that combined with what I needed to withdraw, exceeded the limit. AAGGH! Unfortunately also – is the fact that if a particular deposit doesn’t hit before a particular withdrawal, there may be insufficient funds to complete a transaction. Yes, technology has made banking faster and easier, but the feeling of dread that comes upon you when human or mechanical failure occurs is much the same as you experience when in a hurry to a destination, you see flashing red lights in the rear view mirror.
With all the interest in technological advancements (which we enjoy even if we don’t fully understand) I began to consider the “ATM” that believers have utilized for centuries (Access To the Master). We have instant access to the Maker of the Universe! The PIN number, or "name" is 53787 (think about it.) There is 24-hour availability and no need for Braille on the number pad, because though once blind, we “now can see”. If we become demagnetized, we can call upon I John 1:9 and we are restored. Though our accounts may run low at times, we will never be denied for insufficient funds. “His grace is sufficient for our needs.”
Then the thought occurred to me. What about deposits? Am I only using my ATM to make withdrawals from God? Please help me… Please give me… Please bless me… I’ve become accustomed to my earthly employer depositing my salary into my bank account – and I know that God’s mercies are “new every morning” – but shouldn’t I be contributing to the balance? If I don’t make regular deposits of my worship, thanksgiving and praise, will my account gather as much interest as it might otherwise? Moreover, will not the deposit of serving our Lord compound the amount?
I challenge you, the next time you pull out the plastic to make a transaction, to remember the credit you have on your spiritual account because of the debt that was paid on your behalf. Deposit your gratitude as you make the recollection, be thankful that His account runneth over, and when you drive away… don’t forget your card!
2008 - Thankfully, there have been some improvements in banking technology over the past decade.... but fortunately, no improvements are necessary to God's access system! And years down the road, I still have little appreciation for gender jokes.
It was probably only a few days after the yuck-yuck message that I paid a visit to my neighborhood bank. It was after hours and I pulled into the drive up teller machine. You would think that with all the government regulations – they would make it mandatory for all ATM’s to work the same. I slid in my card, repositioning it until the machine finally consumed it, and entered my PIN (personal identification number). The withdrawal was made quickly and I took my money. As I pulled away, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the screen flashing: “Do you want to make another transaction?” Whoa! I backed up – pressed NO and then across the screen came the message, “Please Take Your Card”. That was close. Relieved, I pressed on the accelerator and shot backward (fortunately, there was no one behind me). Putting the car back into a forward gear, I proceeded away from the demon machine, all the while, remembering the ATM email story and wondering if I had cursed myself by reading it.
This had not been my first run-in with Automatic “Terror” Machines. I have had my PIN rejected, my magnetic stripe demagnetized and the dreaded “Denied” message. There are several reasons you can get the old “Denied” message – one of which is trying to take out more money in a 24 hour period than you are allowed. Like the day I had a cart full of groceries… which was the same day, many miles away on a business trip, my husband had withdrawn enough money, that combined with what I needed to withdraw, exceeded the limit. AAGGH! Unfortunately also – is the fact that if a particular deposit doesn’t hit before a particular withdrawal, there may be insufficient funds to complete a transaction. Yes, technology has made banking faster and easier, but the feeling of dread that comes upon you when human or mechanical failure occurs is much the same as you experience when in a hurry to a destination, you see flashing red lights in the rear view mirror.
With all the interest in technological advancements (which we enjoy even if we don’t fully understand) I began to consider the “ATM” that believers have utilized for centuries (Access To the Master). We have instant access to the Maker of the Universe! The PIN number, or "name" is 53787 (think about it.) There is 24-hour availability and no need for Braille on the number pad, because though once blind, we “now can see”. If we become demagnetized, we can call upon I John 1:9 and we are restored. Though our accounts may run low at times, we will never be denied for insufficient funds. “His grace is sufficient for our needs.”
Then the thought occurred to me. What about deposits? Am I only using my ATM to make withdrawals from God? Please help me… Please give me… Please bless me… I’ve become accustomed to my earthly employer depositing my salary into my bank account – and I know that God’s mercies are “new every morning” – but shouldn’t I be contributing to the balance? If I don’t make regular deposits of my worship, thanksgiving and praise, will my account gather as much interest as it might otherwise? Moreover, will not the deposit of serving our Lord compound the amount?
I challenge you, the next time you pull out the plastic to make a transaction, to remember the credit you have on your spiritual account because of the debt that was paid on your behalf. Deposit your gratitude as you make the recollection, be thankful that His account runneth over, and when you drive away… don’t forget your card!
2008 - Thankfully, there have been some improvements in banking technology over the past decade.... but fortunately, no improvements are necessary to God's access system! And years down the road, I still have little appreciation for gender jokes.
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