II John 14-13 “I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”

It’s amazing how we can communicate in our modern era.  With a few swipes of a finger, on a device I carry in my pocket, I can shoot off a message that will reach the other side of the globe within a few moments.  I can send a message of hope, a warning, or encouragement so easily it would make the apostles’ heads spin.  After all, they were handwriting letters that could take weeks or even months to arrive in the reader’s hands.

We depend on these messages in their short format and incredible speed to convey our thoughts, feelings, and even our heart-felt condolences.  We’ve become accustomed to giving and receiving valuable information through a simple and easy path of communication.

I’m with John though on this one.  Written, long distance, communication is important and can’t be understated as necessary.  But I’d rather see you face to face.  John really wanted to be in the presence of his brothers and sisters.  John wanted more than a text message about their day and how they were doing.  He wanted to sit at a table and talk about things, face to face.  The same way we long for a day when we don’t hear from our Lord through “pen and ink” but talking with him face to face.

Don’t misunderstand me; text away and shoot those emails.  But remember, “I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”