By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
Do you like bubble wrap?
It is a great invention that, frankly, came from a failed experiment. In 1957, two engineers were attempting to create a new type of wallpaper. They wanted to make three-dimensional, textured wallpaper, so they glued two plastic shower curtains together, inadvertently trapping pockets of air between them. Frankly, that doesn’t sound like something I would want decorating my walls. In fact, it was a failure as interior décor.
The two engineers then tried to market the product as greenhouse insulation, which was also unsuccessful. Finally, in 1961, its potential as packaging material was realized. One of its first major users was IBM, which used it to ship computers. Today, bubble wrap comes in many different sizes. It not only protects packages, but it is also a delight to those of us who love to pop all the bubbles.
Watching and running after my grandchildren has brought to mind, more than once, that I wish I could wrap them in bubble wrap so they wouldn’t get hurt. It breaks my heart when they stumble and fall and the tears start to flow. Of course, no one has invented a good form of bubble wrap for children.
The good news is that God has provided a kind of spiritual bubble wrap for humankind. It hurts His heart when we stumble and fall, so He has provided a way for us to be protected from evil.
Notice this Scripture:
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11, NKJV).
God offers complete spiritual protection. Later in the same chapter of Ephesians, the bubble wrap of God is described:
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:14–18, NKJV).
Friends, God has provided a way for us to live in this world spiritually wrapped in His protection.