When I decided last year that I wanted to write, I had to say goodbye to our old computer. It had served us well for several years but no matter the amount of updates and restarts, the computer was as slow as molasses. I needed a new one.
Phillip, being the fixer he is, heard my request and ordered me a new computer without hesitation. He has always been my biggest cheerleader and providing for what I need is one of the many ways he shows me that. He even rearranged our guest room and turned it into the “Writing Room” giving me the designated space I needed to write and create.
Anyway, the new computer arrived in the mail one day and I opened it with excitement. I pushed the power button and waited. A black screen came up with the logo of the computer on it:
ASUS: IN SEARCH OF INCREDIBLE
Catchy, right?
It certainly caught my eye the first time I opened my computer and every time since. And it causes me to ask myself, “Why are we always searching for incredible?”
The answer to the question actually makes my heart ache a little bit every time I think about it.
You’ve heard it said, “We were all born with a God sized hole in our hearts” and it is so true. We were created for fellowship with our Father and when we don’t have it, we search the world for something to fill that hole. We search for incredible when in fact, our Father is the only one who is actually, tried and true, through and through, incredible.
My heart aches for the one who has not experienced incredible. For the one who has not tasted and seen incredible. For the one who has not felt the gentle touch of incredible.
My heart aches for the one who still is searching for incredible.
In doing some research for this post, I looked up the ASUS company. I didn’t see anything on their website but then googled, “ASUS In search of incredible” and a youtube video came up. In it, an employee of ASUS gave a keynote speech about their “In Search of Incredible” philosophy. I am certainly not trying to knock on this company, and am very pleased with the product that we purchased from them, however, it was interesting to me what the employee said. He said, “We do not stop the journey of being in search of incredible. Our goal is to create the ultimate dream-machine that can fulfill all of your desires for entertainment, productivity, mobility and beauty.”
Again, the heart ache was felt.
The world thinks that we can create something that can fulfill all of our desires.
How wrong we are.
Are you searching for incredible in your possessions? A bigger house, a newer car, the latest fashion?
Are you searching for incredible in your pride? A higher status, more power, a smaller waist, less wrinkles, your children’s grades in school, your next social media post?
Are you searching for incredible in more fame? To be given the glory in work, in your family, in your church, in your service?
Are you searching for incredible in money? Thinking that if you have more than you will finally feel happiness?
Are you searching for incredible in romance? A new relationship, someone outside of your marriage, more sex?
Are you searching for incredible in work? Thinking that your identity rests in your performance at work alone?
Are you searching for incredible? The search will be never-ending unless you find the true incredible.
It reminded me of the story from Acts 17: 16-34. Paul is traveling around sharing the gospel message. He comes to Athens where he walks around and sees that the city was full of idols. He recognizes though that the people were very religious in every way, but that they were worshipping objects. Paul even found an altar with the inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.
Paul’s heart ached. He knew that they were searching for incredible in all the wrong places and things. He knew that they would keep searching until they found the true incredible, God.
Paul goes on to tell the Athenians who Incredible is. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:24-25). Paul tells them that God not only made each person but he marked out their appointed times in history and where they would live. Paul says that God did this so that they, we, would seek him and find him.
God did all of that so that we would recognize that He is the incredible that we all search for.
If you are one who is still searching for incredible, “let me tell you about my Jesus.” He is kind and gentle. He is full of love and compassion towards the worst of the worst. He knows your deepest pain and your deepest desire. He knows your yesterday, your today and your tomorrow. When he was hanging by nails from the cross, beaten, wounded, bleeding, struggling for every breath, Jesus knew that he was there for you. You were so important to him that he was not only willing to endure the pain of the cross but also willing to descend into the depths of hell to take on the sins of the world – my sins, your sins- so that we would have the opportunity to search no longer for incredible, but to find him.
What are you searching for today? Maybe you are still searching for incredible. Look to Jesus and your search will be over. Maybe you have found him but have gotten distracted by idols – possessions, pride, fame, money, romance, work, anything. Turn your eyes back to him. Ask Him to increase your desire for Him. Maybe you have found him and are wrapped up in Him. Tell everyone about him.
Tell the world that the search for incredible is over.
Incredible is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
He is INCREDIBLE!
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4
God, may we tell the world of you, the true incredible.
