The Meyer Minute for January 24, 2014

An anniversary yesterday: January 23, 1960, the “Trieste” descended 35,813 feet into the Pacific Ocean near Guam. Down in the deepest known place on the surface of the earth, the pilots saw what no human had ever seen, including fish living in that deep darkness. What wonder they must have felt!

In contrast, a Barna study found young people have a very superficial understanding of Christianity but, surprise, they don’t think so. “The vast majority of churchgoing teenagers said they understand the teachings of the Bible ‘very well.’” Asked about his life goals, one 17-year-old said, “I don’t know. I am really good at a lot of things. I am also really interested in a lot of things. I’m thinking of starting a college. I feel I have a lot to teach others about many subjects.” (“You Lost Me,” p. 117) Hmmm….. An academic Justin Bieber?

The “Trieste” was a “bathysckaphe,” the word coming from two Greek words, “skapha” for “small boat” and “bathos” meaning “deep.” Are you and I going deep down into biblical depths so that we arise awestruck and model for youth “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God?” (Romans 11:33)