Years ago, when I lived in California, we used to frequent a spot in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. We would camp in the National Forest, out in the wild. The closest town to where we usually camped was named Strawberry, CA. It was a small town with a General Store/Post Office/Motel. About a mile away was a state owned and operated camp ground complete with electrical hookups for RV’s. That was about it for the town of Strawberry, except for the homes that were scattered about within the town’s limits. It was a peaceful community which had little to offer other than its beauty, good fishing and good hunting. We had simply stumbled upon this area when we were driving and exploring for areas in which to camp and fish. We had no camping gear on that initial trip, so we decided to stay at the Motel. This Motel was actually more of a resort since it had cabins, which included multiple bedrooms and full kitchens. Operating out of this resort, which was aptly named “The Strawberry Resort and Inn,” we explored the area fully and discovered wilderness camping areas to be used on later trips. Over time we traveled there numerous, perhaps uncountable times. After several camping trips, we decided on the spur of the moment to call “The Strawberry Resort and Inn” to see if they had any available space for the weekend. Since it was already Friday and we were in California, we were not too hopeful, but nonetheless I decided to call and check. I could not find their number in any of my files so I did what we all do from time to time; I called directory assistance to ask for the number of the resort. Usually you have the area code for the place that you’re wanting to call, but I didn’t even know that, since California has so many area codes (even more now than then). Well, I called the operator and got directory assistance. A lady with a very pleasant voice came on with the familiar statement and question: “Directory Assistance, what city please?” Knowingly, I nonchalantly respond, “Strawberry, California.” There is a long pause and then finally her response: “Which one, sir?” “Which one?” I repeated. “Yes sir, there are actually two different towns in California that are named Strawberry.” I had no idea which one. I asked her if she knew where they were located, but she had no idea. I thanked her and hung up the phone, dumbfounded. I had no idea what to do at first, but then I got out my Rand-McNally Road Atlas and looked at the towns listed for California. Sure enough, there were two towns with the name Strawberry; one in Northern California and one in Southern California. Once I nailed that down I looked at the nearest larger sized town to the one in Northern California and looked up their area code, hoping it would be the same as the one for the Strawberry that I desired to contact. It was the same and I had success with the operator and found the number for the resort and even managed to book the last remaining cabin.
It’s funny how even when you have the correct name and think you know everything about the place it can turn out to be the same name shared by another. It means that you really have to get to know as much about the things associated with that name as it is possible to know, in order to really claim that you know it. Once I knew more, the part about Northern California and the area code, it was easy to find the true Strawberry. The same holds true with our Jesus. The more you know about Him and His character, the more you’ll be able to identify the things that are of Him and the things that are not. It’s fun to discover these things and they help us to really know our God. Blessings!

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