RESTLESS TRAVEL

People in today’s world travel a lot more than they used to in the past. For many thousands of years, animal based transport was the only mode of travel and most people rarely traveled more than a few miles beyond their homes. However at the turn of the 19^th century, both the automobile and the airplane were invented and in just over 100 years, technology has increased manifold to make intercontinental travel easy. As we consider the future, the possibility of hyper loops and supersonic jets will simplify travel further. 

One of the signs of the end times is the increase in travel and knowledge, which we are witnessing now. Daniel reminds us,

“But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12:4)

The stark contrast between the last 100 years and the several thousands of years prior to that is spectacular. The increase in knowledge that has fueled the several inventions over the last 100 years has become even more obvious with the proliferation of the Internet and the ever-increasing networks that make such communication widespread. But despite the increase in knowledge and travel, man’s restlessness has only increased. One vacation needs to be replaced by another more expensive and exotic. Vacation travel leaves one so drained that a vacation at home after the travel seems to be a constant necessity. And when vacation is only a means to bragging rights and exquisite photographs, it becomes obvious that travel is more to satisfy one’s pride rather than the need to see places.

Perhaps the restless wandering of man is a reflection of the emptiness within and a search for the truth, which he hopes he will receive as he experiences new sights, historic places and alien cultures. But there is little hope for satisfaction when man abandons the true light of the world, Christ, in who is the fullness of life. And repeated rejection will lead to a state where the word of God will no longer be available despite man’s searching,

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. (Amos 8:11,12)

And in today’s restless wanderers, will be seen the epitome of the original restless wanderer, Cain, who was cursed to such a state because of his disobedience. As Hosea says,

My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations. (Hosea 9:17)

So what is the solution? Rather than make use of the increased knowledge and avenues for travel, man needs to see the restlessness within, identify the emptiness thereof and turn to Christ who alone can bring satisfaction and rest.

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