IIsn’t it amazing how science and developing technology eventually trap us in a complete web of dependencies? How did we live without computers, email accounts, and cell phones? It seems incredible that the Church has survived for almost 2,000 years without these important ministries.
Unfortunately, where grace abounds, sin also abounds. What should be a valuable tool to help us can quickly turn into a curse from hell.
If I sound a little “over the top”, it’s because I’m too often the sad recipient of modern curses. A few years ago, my computer was infected with a nasty little virus. It infected my hard drive and eventually made my operating system virtually undetectable to the hardware. To put it simply, the worst situation has been crushed.
But the worst part of this disaster was that this virus attached itself to my email address book and randomly sent infected pieces of information to all my friends and relatives. If you have ever been one of those victims, I would like to express my sincere apologies and deepest sympathies.
In addition to the technological issues that put this generation of humans at personal risk, the many computer applications on which we have increasingly become hopelessly dependent for information, financial management, and, of course, valuable entertainment there is. Never mind that applications may be pre-programmed to infect our devices with viruses and spyware, and how our hearts and minds are unconsciously steered away from truth and justice. Think for a moment about what you might be doing.
Sadly, it seems that people can no longer live fulfilling lives without a mobile phone within easy reach. Personal convenience is mistaken for urgency. You can’t go to the gym or even go on a date with your significant other if you don’t have ready access to your valuable devices. Some recent scientific research suggests that it is a type of addiction and actually releases dopamine in our brains, creating a “rush” or “feel-good” sensation.
But does it serve us, or does it serve some motive that secretly drives us towards addiction? We have access to the entire Library of Congress through the little portable televisions we carry with us at all times, but we don’t really use it to educate ourselves in the classic sense of what “educating” actually means. Very few people use it.
We live in a time when advances in technology have opened the imagination to what humans can do when it comes to health, safety, and nearly every aspect of life.
Science is currently “unstable” precisely because humanity has more powerful tools than most people can fully comprehend. Unfortunately, while some people understand this, very few have your best interests at heart. While we take hundreds of cute “selfies,” our personal identity, important information, and perhaps our attention can only be found “in Christ.” deprived of the eternal question of our true identity.
Those who do not believe in the existence of evil are not paying attention. Hacker nerds and malicious program engineers are exposed to the devil’s influence right through the hole. How else can you explain why someone who doesn’t know you would destroy your valuable computer information or accidentally try to keep you away from something temporarily essential to your eternal safety? mosquito?
Some of them don’t even get paid for hurting you. They do it for the sheer pleasure of creating chaos. It is evil, plain and simple. Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ”.
I’m sure that’s what we’re dealing with here. Our enemy, Satan, is a thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). It’s often subtle, seemingly benign, and happens when you’re not paying attention. In short, he is out to get us and is going to use anyone and anything to help him, including our technology.
The reality is that we live in a world infected with a nasty and deadly virus called sin. It can wreak havoc on our lives and destroy our moral operating systems. It randomly attacks important spiritual “programs” on which we rely for divine knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
Additionally, it will be attached to our personal address book. We do not intend to harm our friends and relatives, but this ugly virus invades every corner of our relationships, systematically disrupting effective communication. Indeed, sin has messed up our world quite a bit. That’s what the Bible says anyway.
A computer savvy friend told me that I had fallen victim to an advanced virus because I didn’t keep my antivirus program up to date. My “firewall” wasn’t enough to fight off the demonic forces of technology attacking my computer. Without an effective shield, I was doomed to crash.
This information came too late to save computers, but it provides a timely illustration of how to avoid moral contagion and crashes in non-technical life. You just need to keep your firewall up to date.
Continuing his thoughts on fighting evil, Paul admonishes us to put on the full armor of God so that we can stand firm when the day of evil comes (Ephesians 6:13 -18). Truth, gospel preparation, faith, assurance of salvation, and God’s Word protect us from the virus of sin. Above all, we must always pray in the Spirit, and we must be attentive while praying.
1 Peter 5:8-9 strengthens our warning to be restrained and on guard because our enemy the devil roams around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. What Peter is admonishing us to do is to resist him as we stand firm in our faith. James 4:7 further adds that if we submit to God, we will be able to resist the devil and he will flee from us.
The bottom line is that when we face difficulties and temptations, when we are most vulnerable to Satan’s schemes, we need to draw on the power of the Lord and His Holy Spirit.
It sounds simple enough, if only we could discern what is going on beneath the surface of the reality we are experiencing. How alert are you about what’s going on in your mind, heart, and soul? That’s not a rhetorical question. It’s serious business.
Jude 20-21 teaches us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, and praying for the love of God as we wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to lead us to eternal life. It teaches us to keep ourselves within. Spiritual preventive maintenance requires forethought and care. Even the little things we so easily take for granted. This also includes dependence on modern technology.
It is vitally important that we stand firm and united in faith against the constant onslaught of sin in our lives. May our corporate vigilance keep our spiritual firewalls secure and up to date as we pray for each other regularly. May God add matchless grace and great mercy to your vigilance.
Blessings,
leroy
[LeRoy Curtis is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Asbury Theological Seminary. He served four years as a U.S. Naval Officer after which he became a pastor, Bible professor, educator, author, and missionary living in E. Africa for eight years where he and his wife developed a curriculum of biblical studies for untrained pastors in rural Kenya. His passion for training young church leaders takes him to various parts of the U.S., Latin America, and Africa. He and Judy are currently residing in Carrollton, Georgia.]
