Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist's counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves, that they hadn't heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.

Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has been filled."

The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!" The employer said, "I'm sorry, but all the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his."

Too often, like the applicants in the story above, the reason why we don't respond to God's message is that we haven't really been listening to it. God continues to try to get our attention, but we get distracted by so many other voices and sounds around us that we never even hear what God has to say.

Friend, God speaks to us in many different ways. In fact, we are surrounded by fantastic displays of God's craftsmanship-the universe gives dramatic evidence of His existence, His power, His love, and His care. That's why the psalmist was moved to write in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvellous display of His craftsmanship."

Today as you look at God's craftsmanship in nature and the heavens, thank Him for such magnificent beauty and the truth it reveals about the Creator. And may you seek to listen to God in spite of all the clatter that seeks to distract you.

Friend, I know, from the letters we receive, that a lot of people feel a spiritual void in their lives. They often express that they feel lonely…frustrated…angry…confused. Some intimate that they desperately want to make contact with God … but can't seem to find him. - If you are one of those people, we think we can help. We certainly want to. Therefore, we invite you to write to us for a FREE copy of a small booklet titled: "How to find God." To receive your copy, just write to Discovering A BETTER LIFE, P.O. Box 1540, Albany, WA 6331. You can also request "How to find God" or Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au