I remember when they started, just barely, on July 1, 1963. I was still in elementary school and never sent any mail myself, but I remember my parents having to memorize our brand new code—the US Postal Service Zone Improvement Plan, or ZIP code for short.
If you never knew it, those numbers do mean something. The first number is the National Area. The next two are the Sectional Center or Large City Post Office. The last two are the Associate Post Office or Delivery Area. It all came about because of the huge increase in mail and the new automated systems. At first, using zip codes wasn't legally required, and actually, it still isn't, but if you want a relatively quick delivery, I wouldn't buck the system if I were you. It works so well that it has become a model for other countries. Imagine that (of something run by the government).
Did you know that four people have their own personal zip codes? The President of the United States (20500-0001), the First Lady (20500-0002), Smokey Bear (20252), and of course, Santa, who takes the Canadian postal code HOH OHO. Not so in the US, where all his letters are sent to North Pole, Alaska, and he shares his zip code with that town, 99705.
Although zip codes are supposed to help mail carriers and others find addresses more quickly, it doesn't always work that way. In central Pennsylvania off interstate 80, the town of Conyngham, with the zip code of 18219, sits right smack in the middle of Sugarloaf, PA, with the zip code of 18249. The residents of Conyngham, then, live within the zip code of 18249, but they don't live in it—like a hole in a doughnut isn't actually part of the doughnut. You may not think this is important, but it can affect your insurance rates and property taxes, your voter registration, jury duty, and more seriously, emergency response time. Conygham is known as the town that got swallowed up by a zip code.
That's one thing you don't need to worry about with God. He knows exactly where you are any time of day. If you need Him, He can find you and your zip code doesn't make any difference at all. In fact, His response time can beat anything man has to offer with or without the help of a zip code.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, (Ps 33:18).
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles, (Ps 34:17).
That can be very comforting to the faithful, but don't forget the negative aspect of this promise: For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths, (Prov 5:21). Not only can God always find you to help you, but He also knows exactly what you are doing, whether good or bad.
But for today, ponder this comforting promise. Not only will God never forsake you (Psa 37:25,28; Heb 13:5), He doesn't need a zip code for rapid response. He will not become confused should you, like the residents of Conyngham, Pennsylvania, be lost in the middle of the wrong zip code. In fact, it is not a matter of His "finding" you, because to Him you are never lost at all.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, (1Pet 3:12).
Dene Ward
If you never knew it, those numbers do mean something. The first number is the National Area. The next two are the Sectional Center or Large City Post Office. The last two are the Associate Post Office or Delivery Area. It all came about because of the huge increase in mail and the new automated systems. At first, using zip codes wasn't legally required, and actually, it still isn't, but if you want a relatively quick delivery, I wouldn't buck the system if I were you. It works so well that it has become a model for other countries. Imagine that (of something run by the government).
Did you know that four people have their own personal zip codes? The President of the United States (20500-0001), the First Lady (20500-0002), Smokey Bear (20252), and of course, Santa, who takes the Canadian postal code HOH OHO. Not so in the US, where all his letters are sent to North Pole, Alaska, and he shares his zip code with that town, 99705.
Although zip codes are supposed to help mail carriers and others find addresses more quickly, it doesn't always work that way. In central Pennsylvania off interstate 80, the town of Conyngham, with the zip code of 18219, sits right smack in the middle of Sugarloaf, PA, with the zip code of 18249. The residents of Conyngham, then, live within the zip code of 18249, but they don't live in it—like a hole in a doughnut isn't actually part of the doughnut. You may not think this is important, but it can affect your insurance rates and property taxes, your voter registration, jury duty, and more seriously, emergency response time. Conygham is known as the town that got swallowed up by a zip code.
That's one thing you don't need to worry about with God. He knows exactly where you are any time of day. If you need Him, He can find you and your zip code doesn't make any difference at all. In fact, His response time can beat anything man has to offer with or without the help of a zip code.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, (Ps 33:18).
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles, (Ps 34:17).
That can be very comforting to the faithful, but don't forget the negative aspect of this promise: For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths, (Prov 5:21). Not only can God always find you to help you, but He also knows exactly what you are doing, whether good or bad.
But for today, ponder this comforting promise. Not only will God never forsake you (Psa 37:25,28; Heb 13:5), He doesn't need a zip code for rapid response. He will not become confused should you, like the residents of Conyngham, Pennsylvania, be lost in the middle of the wrong zip code. In fact, it is not a matter of His "finding" you, because to Him you are never lost at all.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, (1Pet 3:12).
Dene Ward
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