Feb. 16, 2012
For Immediate Release
Dr. Kevin Cosby, senior pastor of St. Stephen Church and president of Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville, spoke at Campbellsville University’s chapel service to celebrate African-American History Month. (Campbellsville University Photo by Sarah Ames)
By Tori Banks, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – “I’ve come here to tell you that maybe the source of your frustration is a blessing from God,” said Dr. Kevin Cosby, president of Simmons College of Kentucky and pastor of St. Stephen Church of Louisville, Ky.
Cosby spoke at CU’s weekly chapel service.
Speaking from Isaiah 28:20, Cosby utilized the metaphor drawn by the prophet Isaiah to explain that as Christians, sometimes the plans God have for us are bigger than the plans we have for ourselves. He said Isaiah is speaking on conformity in this passage.
“Conformity is fitting within the scope and size of a particular situation,” Cosby said. “This passage is talking about a person who is lying down in a bed, but can’t stretch across the bed because it’s too short. To make matters worse, it must have been a cool night because the Bible says the man wanted to get warm, but the covering was too narrow.”
Cosby said Isaiah chose to use this metaphor to send a message to the people of Israel.
“Isaiah is using this illustration because there is a colossal superpower that is swallowing up the surrounding nations and Israel doesn’t know if they can keep them away,” Cosby said. “But at no time did they think of going to God for protection. Instead, they sought the help of Egypt.”
Cosby said Isaiah told the people of Israel they could go to Egypt if they wanted, but that “the bed is too short, and the covers too narrow.” Isaiah was sending the message that Egypt couldn’t truly protect Israel, only God could.
“Many people today still try to live their lives like this,” Cosby said. “They are trying to fit into situations that are too small for them.”
“There are people who are concerned about the length of their life, but if all you want in life is to live long, then your bed is too short and your covers are too narrow,” Cosby said. “Life is not about duration, it’s about donation.”
“Society tells us to live large; we have the desire to acquire,” Cosby said. “But if the only reason you came to Campbellsville is to get a job so you can acquire stuff, then your bed is too short and your covers are too narrow.”
Cosby said our problem is that we have goals that are too small for ourselves.
“You’re probably wondering what this has to do with Black History Month,” Cosby said. “But I believe this has everything to do with black history.”
“For many years African-American people were residing in jobs and places that were too small for them because of racism,” Cosby said. “The chains of slavery were around their minds.”
Cosby said black history rejected this and said “No, this bed is too small! It doesn’t matter what color I am, I am somebody!”
Several influential African-American individuals who helped to promote this idea were mentioned including W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson (noted historian who began Black History Month), Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barrack Obama.
“The great tragedy of life is not that the bed is too short and the covers too narrow. It’s that you’ve gotten used to it,” he said.
“I’ve come here to tell you that maybe the source of your frustration is a blessing from God,” Cosby said. “He is saying to you that your bed is too short and the covers too narrow, and He is going to keep frustrating you until you move into a bigger bed that’s right for you.”
Cosby said, as children of God, we need to recognize and remember that we are made in His image. He said we should never forget who we are in Christ so that we never find ourselves caught in a bed that is too short under a cover that is too narrow.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.