It is good to be home.

Early Tuesday morning, Paul and I arrived at JFK airport in NYC after our overnight from Accra. It was 5:50 AM, and neither of us had had our coffee yet.

We gathered our things, stretched and deplaned, and began the long walk from the gate to customs. It's about a 7 minute walk from the international arrivals gates to the Immigration and Customs area, a welcome walk after 11 hours in a plane. Along the way - the walls are painted with murals and quotes of Americana, and as you come down the big ramp that leads to customs, there's a large sign that says, "Welcome to New York".

Before we had crossed under the sign, we could hear the hustle and bustle in the room at the bottom of the ramp. As we entered the area and were able to see the shear number of people present, we were blown away. It was a good reminder to get Global Entry - that line only had 5 people. I'm not sure how many hundred were in the one that I needed, but we lined up nonetheless.

We accessed the kiosks, entered all our information and then got into our respective line--U.S. Citizens--and slowly marched forward step by step, while waiting for our interview with the customs official. 

As I waited in line - I had a chance to look around, and to consider the people I was observing. A number were clearly not used to being in lines, they jostled and maneuvered, cutting in line to get ahead - earning the ire of the lady that was trying to organize everyone. The individuals present were from every conceivable continent - asiatic, african, central and south american, european, their respective countries in those regions I couldn't tell you - but I got to thinking about the microcosm I happened to find myself in as I was standing there. All these individuals were only a day earlier in these various places and now - 10, 12, 15 some hours later, were standing in New York City, waiting to get into the United States on vacation, for work, or whatever their reason for visiting might be.

I had my interview with the agent and as we concluded he said, "Welcome Home." I responded, "It's good to be home." 

Once we cleared customs, and dropped our bags for our connecting flights - I headed through Terminal 4 through the B gates in a bit of a hurry in hopes of making my connection, (no time for coffee) and saw the signs on the flights waiting at the gates. They were heading to Mexico, to the Caribbean, Europe, various cities in the United States, Canada, and I thought about all of it even more, all those folks from earlier that morning had arrived, all these folks were departing. 

It really is incredible to consider. JFK handled 61.6 million passengers through the airport in 2018. 61.6 million people hopping to and fro from place to place. Hopping flights that crisscross the globe, hundreds per day, landing all over the world.

The book of Daniel (Daniel 12:4) contains a passage that states, "But you Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." We certainly have reached a point in history where mankind can run to and fro like never before.

Additionally, human knowledge is estimated to be doubling every 12 months now. In 1900 it took 100 years for human knowledge to double even once. It is estimated in the next 10 years, we will reach a place where human knowledge doubles every 12 hours. 

Interestingly - the knowledge that is doubling so rapidly is worldly knowledge. It's not the truth of God. When you see the number of people in Africa who have phones and internet connections now, and are reading and learning from the internet - and realize this same technological revolution is happening all throughout the 3rd world, you can see how it could lead to this effect of the doubling of human knowledge.

We are living in the time of the end. People are running to and fro, and knowledge is increasing. Our orders are to continue on and remain faithful during this time, letting our light shine, being wise to understand the signs of the times and being vigilant, ensuring that our lamps are full.

Have a wonderful Sabbath! Fill that lamp!