Lost in space

GPS and the brain

The Acronym GPS stands for Global Positioning System, and it is a marvelous system of guidance. Most of us nowadays have gotten so accustomed to it that we would get lost finding an address with the street and number. A part of our brain known as the hippocampus which stores spatial memories and navigation as well as mental mapping has been heavily affected by the GPS system. NBC News’ Dr. John Torres has more insight on how losing navigational skills can lead to cognitive decline, and even dementia. The idea of losing the way or feeling lost is not something that anyone enjoys feeling. Tracing one’s steps back from where they came from is one way of not losing his/her way. Finding the way back after one is lost is sometimes not so easy, because there are so many ways. Jesus said that wide is the gate that leads into destruction and narrow is the gate which is not so easy to find (Mt7:13). The fact that there are so many ways that seem to be right and lead to life, can be confusing and tempting to follow (pr14:12). But when one finds the way either for the first time or after losing, they are considered as “people of the way”. 

John 14:2-6

² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. ⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. ⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? ⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

After about two and a half years with the disciples and Jesus pointing the way to the Father, they continued to be unsure of the way and where he was going. Thomas representing the disciples after Jesus tells them that he was going to the Father’s house, did not understand where he was going and much less the way. But the place where Jesus was going was revealed already, and Thomas along with the other disciples needed to believe it and accept it. As far as the ordinance to the Father was not important, because there was no way directionally to get to him, Jesus needed to come take us to him. Paul tells us that we are going to be transformed and taken up to the clouds to be with the Lord (1The4:17). So, this feeling of being lost or have lost the direction should not be in the believer, because the Father is with us. Having the Father with us and in us should quench any feeling of being lost, Jesus told Philip this in verse 8 of John 14 “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?” Job felt this feeling of being lost after the thought that God had taken everything, even hope from him (Jb19:10). After all was gone and lost, Job understood that God was his redeemer and has not forgotten about him (Jb19:25).