Back in 98 or 99, I was subcontracted by the Navy to install a new shipboard phone system/intercom on a heavy lifter named the Buffalo Soldier. It was part of the Merchant Marine Re-supply fleet anchored in the bay of Diego Garcia. It was a long flight to get there, I flew from Norfolk to Chicago, over Alaska, to Narita Airport in Tokyo. From there I rode a bus to Yokota Air Base outside Tokyo. The next morning I flew to Singapore, then on to Diego Garcia. Five days later, I think, after I finished the installation, I flew home by way of Fujairah Airport UAE, where I was picked up by a shipping agent. I was driven across the country to Dubai, spent one night, and flew out the next day to London where I sat around the airport most of the day, then caught a flight to Dallas, Texas. I then changed planes and flew to Norfolk. You can read the whole adventure here: Around the World in Ten Days!

The last leg of my journey was the only time I was heading East. The previous flights all went west, all the way around the world. You can fly North, cross the North Pole, and then you are heading south, but no matter how far you go when heading west, you will never meet East. Think about that. Brings up this question, just how far is the East from the West? It’s a long way, can't be measured.

Is that why the Psalmist said this (Notice he did not say North from the South) :

Psalm 103 verse 12

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Wow, someone knew way back then that the world was round and he also knew something else. That God's mercy is everlasting, we who believe in his son will not face condemnation, because we are completely forgiven and our sins are buried in the sea of forgetfulness. We have a covenant with God, a contract signed in blood, the blood of the Lamb. That is a cause for great rejoicing, God is on his throne. We are saved and he will keep us that way. That is something you can take to the bank for sure.

Psalm 103:11-22

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

15 The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18 with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the Lord, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.