Good morning. It is a fine Friday morning. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
In 1851, Elias Howe received a patent for an “Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure”. Eventually, this became known as a “zipper,” but it took a while. He received his patent but had no backing to market his idea, so his zipper idea didn’t really amount to much. Forty-two years later, in 1893, Whitcomb Judson patented another form of zipper called the “Clasp Locker”. Personally, I think it took forty-two years for them to figure out how to get the original device unstuck. Whitcomb’s zipper didn’t really take off either. However, after some significant modifications the patent for the “Separable Fastener” was issued in 1917 to Gideon Sundback and by 1923 the word “zipper” was applied to his invention. We’ve been zipping things open and closed ever since.
I delve into the history of the zipper, a riveting topic to be sure, to point out that even really good ideas sometimes have to fight their way into existence.
By the way, did you know that the electric chair was invented by a dentist? Yep, in 1881 Alfred P. Southwick put down his dentistry tools long enough to invent “the chair.” He may have been a fine dentist, but I have to admit that I would have had some trouble accepting him as being “kind and careful” after knowing where his wandering mind had taken him.
“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” Galileo Galilei
Galileo is remembered as a true genius, and often is described as the father of modern physics. He uttered the above quote in his defense after his championing of Copernican heliocentrism (Earth rotating daily and revolving around the sun) met with opposition from within the Catholic Church and from some astronomers. The matter was investigated by the Roman Inquisition in 1615, which concluded that heliocentrism was foolish, absurd, and heretical since it contradicted Holy Scripture. It did not contradict scripture at all, it simply contradicted the stubborn and erroneous interpretations of scripture by persons more concerned with the politics of the church than with recognizing truth.
I mention all of this because I think that it is quite natural for good Christian people to find themselves in a place of conflict with the world around us. This is often because ideas about faithful living as we have come to understand them from God’s Word are not always going to be recognized or accepted.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 42:10
If we were to feel as if the whole world stood in opposition to us and our understanding of Christian life as we have come to believe through the Word of God, what would we do? I know, statements about “the whole world” being in agreement about anything is a bit out there, but the point is that at times we may indeed feel as though we are isolated and alone because of our faith. The question then, is whether we hold to our convictions or compromise those convictions for expediency.
We read of Paul’s advice to his young protégée Timothy on this subject in 2 Timothy 3:10-14 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it…
Being opposed for our faith is to be expected. In fact, if we aren’t feeling in conflict with the world around us because of our views of faith and salvation we may need to consider if we are being too careful and conservative in what we are saying. Paul’s point to Timothy, and to us, is to hang in there. God is with you, and that is all that matters.
Be bold today and let the truth you are sure of be recognized!
Vern