No Visibility in Chicago

Have you ever been to The Windy City? If you have not, you probably have seen this famous city in many films. In fact, you probably have Chicago filmed in one of your movies in your personal DVD library. It has been in blockbuster such as Spiderman II and Batman Begins. Recently, my wife and I had the chance to go to Chicago with a group of wild and crazy students from Missouri Baptist University. Melissa and I decided to do all of the usual tourist stuff. We went to the Navy Pier, shopped the Miracle Mile, and got to experience a nose bleed by going to the top of the Sears Tower. (Just kidding on the nose bleed thing.)

The most disappointing event of the trip was our journey in the Sears Tower - the tallest building in the world if you are counting the 200ft. antennas on the top. Most of the day threatened with rain, so when we arrived at the tower it was mostly cloudy and damp. As usual first time tourist, we decided to pay for the over priced tickets and take our chances at seeing the city from space on a rainy day. We entered the orientation room where we watched a short-film on the history of this sky scraper. Afterwards, we then walked amongst the crowd to the elevators. We waited in a long and stuffy line to get into a large elevator prepared to take us up 103 floors. After we were packed like sardines, the operator pressed the button and we were off into the wild grey yonder.

As the doors opened we were asked to step out and enjoy the sites from the Sky Deck. Excitingly Melissa and I walked out and planted our noses on the glass and looked out only to see gray in every direction. The visibility was zero! What a disappointment! What a let down! I began to get angry at the Sear's Tower people for letting us buy the tickets. Didn't they know that a huge gray cloud was going to engulf the largest building in the world? I bet they were laughing under their breath as they were telling us to come on up and see the sights. But I controlled myself from any outburst considering my Christ-like witness and the fragile times we live in concerning public attractions with high security. Reluctantly, we stayed for 5 minutes and proceeded back down.

As we exited the building, I thought about the experience. I could not help but think about what Jesus said in Matthew 6. In versus 19 and 20 he says, Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. In other words, the things of this world only provide temporary satisfaction at best. We were excited to see this great view and we were let down. Similarly, the world promises us exciting and satisfying things only to let us down in the end.

Have you had a similar experience? Maybe it was a new job and under delivered what you expected. Or it may have been a new boyfriend/girlfriend that did not seem to be all they should have been.Whatever the case may be, have no worries and take joy in the fact that this world can never give us what we really desire. I am glad my hope and truest satisfaction is found in Christ. These are the things that matter for eternity!As we continued to walk away, I became thankful for the disappointment. I was reminded about the thing that really matters. And it is not from this world.