Welcome to the Twilight Zone

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 NIV

It is a lot going on in the world today: war and conflict, natural disasters, Pandemics and plagues, moral and societal issues, greed to the tune of, for the love of money, and global interconnectedness. All of these things have people asking, will I be able to take care of my family? Where are the jobs? Are prices at the grocery store going to keep going up? Can I afford my medication? Are our schools safe? Can I afford to go to college? Do I really have job security? What, where and who is next? A lot of this stuff going on in the world today makes you feel like you’re in the twilight zone.

Speaking of the that, The Twilight Zone ran for five seasons on CBS from October 2, 1959, to June 18, 1964. The show dealt with characters who found themselves in often disturbing and unusual events. The show often made me go umm..

There are a lot of cool episodes, the top four for me are, let’s start with number four:

Nightmare at 20,000 feet, this stars William Shatner, outside his window on the flight home, from a six month stay in the hospital, spots a gremblin on the wing. In the end, the plane is forced to land, but when the technicians look at the plane, they are puzzled as to what could have  made all this damaged.

Number 3, The Howling Man, this episode starts with a man on a walking trip of post-world war I, he gets caught in a storm and comes across a remote monastery with a mysterious prisoner. Satan was locked in the prison with just a staff across his door. Satan played on the mans sympathy and ignorance of the man. The man ended up releasing him from his prison, turning him on the world. He shares his story with his house keep, telling her after many years he finally caught him and locked him away in a closet with a tiny staff at the door. His parting words to her, “don’t open that door.” But curiosity did what to the cat?

Number 2, The Masks, a dying rich man demands that his money-grubbing family wear mask for his final Mardi party. In the end he dies and the family now can claim their riches, as they remove their mask they look like the scary faces they put on, no doubt confining them to the house for life.

And finally, number 1, To Serve Man, the people of earth don’t know what to think of when a 9-foot-tall alien shares that they can wipe out hunger and bring global peace. All in the effort to serve man.  One of them leaves their book behind written in a language that can’t be read. But a lady is determined to decipher the title of the book, To Serve Man, in the meantime people from earth are making trips to the alien planet left and right. But what was that title all about, To Serve Man? Well, it’s a cookbook. Get it, to serve man.

What was unique about The Twilight Zone, was the writing, it kept you guessing. But unlike the show, the Word of God gives to believer’s assurance. Even when times are hard.

He is and remains in control of all things. He is our refuge in the mist of trouble; we can turn to him as our safe place. His promises are sure, and his love never ceases.

And when you feel like you’re in the twilight zone,

continue in prayer, anchor yourself in scripture, wait on him, God’s timing is perfect. Lean on and with your community. Those family and friends, who are also believing God will not only hear, but answer. The word says where two or three are gathered in my name I am in the mist.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.