Because of personal circumstances, I often find myself traveling—and for someone like me, the GPS (Global Positioning System) in my car is an invaluable companion. Once I sit behind the wheel and enter the destination address, it instantly prepares a map and schedule, guiding me with visual and auditory cues: “Go this way, turn that way.”

At first, I wasn’t used to relying on GPS. I ignored its directions and followed my own thoughts and instincts. But gradually, as I began to trust its performance and accuracy, I discovered that it consistently led me along routes that were shorter and more convenient than those I would have chosen myself. Even when I missed a turn, GPS would instantly recalculate and guide me back toward my destination. And if I ever got lost, even briefly, it could still pinpoint my exact location anywhere on Earth.

“Why do I need GPS when I have a map? Isn’t it just a luxury?” That was my initial thought when I first encountered GPS years ago. But now, thanks to GPS, I no longer wander unfamiliar roads. I can avoid congested areas in advance, and I save both time and fuel. For me, GPS has become a deeply appreciated tool.

Yet GPS isn’t just for drivers. It’s used in military intelligence, global science, geology and earthquake research, commerce, hobbies, telecommunications—and even criminal investigations. Its applications are so vast that I can hardly imagine their limits.

The basic idea behind GPS, using satellites, was first conceived in 1939 by German space scientist Karl Hans Sennk for military purposes. It was later developed further by Soviet and American scientists, culminating in the GPS we know today in February 1978. However, GPS became widely available only after the tragic downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by the Soviet Union in 1983. After innocent lives were lost due to political conflict, President Reagan opened GPS access for civilian safety and welfare—and today, we benefit from that decision.

Whenever I encounter the precision of GPS—an invention born of human imagination—I feel God’s presence more closely than ever, and I’m filled with awe at His greatness. I’m reminded of the dignity and worth of every person, created by God and cherished by Him, who desires to walk with us always.

Just as the psalmist confessed, “Even if I hide in the cleft of the rock, God is there,” I believe that God knows and understands my situation more accurately than I do myself. Even if my soul wanders briefly in this world, once I enter the address toward my eternal destination—Heaven—my life will no longer be lost or wasted. Though I may have turned away from God at times, He has never left me. And knowing He will never leave me in the days ahead fills me with overwhelming gratitude.

© Wanhee Yoon

(Faith Column #15) Published in LA Christian Today,

September 10, 2008