COMPUTERS

                                                                       Computers

Neil & Juno, Isle of Skye

We’ve come along way since sundials, cuckoo clocks, and digital musical alarm clocks. We can now ask our clocks questions and have them answer! I asked why the sky was blue. A soothing female voice explained it all to me! Computers are wonderful things. What was once the size of a double-decker bus, can now be as small as your pinky-nail. I must ask my clock how many algorithms can dance on the head of a pin!

Mind you, no longer do government agencies and large corporations need to stick listening devices under tables and chairs etc. Ordinarily algorithms are given credit, but computers seem to be able to hear our discussions, and at times even read our thoughts. Advertisements pop-up on our computer screens which leave us wondering about this. It may be ominous or maybe it’s just the chip trying to address our ‘felt needs’. However, it gives a new application to, ‘Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter’ (Eccl. 10:20). Instead of ‘a little bird told me’, we can now say, ‘a little computer algorithm told me.’

God doesn’t need birds or angels to ‘dob us in’. Nor does He need listening bugs or computers. Being omnipresent He is already aware of every intent and thought of our hearts (Gen. 5:5). Think about the immensity of God, i.e., His everywhere at once-ness. Then think about the size of Adam, God’s own image and likeness. Adam could ask God questions and receive verbal answers. Eve could do the same with Adam, as could Cain and Abel with Adam and Eve. God is the original computer. Mankind is the computer-chip version of God. Now think of a computer virus. The Bible calls this virus ‘sin’. Like an infected computer each of us do things contrary to how God first designed us. The difference between mankind and the computers we have made is that, though we image God, He gave us free will. Books are written and movies are made about what happens when computers have free will. It never ends well for us! Well, the reality is that individually and collectively humanity has turned against our creator. We seek to destroy Him. How so? The ways are endless. Denial of His existence, all false religion (including atheism) to name a couple.

How do we get rid of a computer virus? Through protection against and elimination of the virus by using apps and devices to scan our computers. How does God deal with our sin? ‘For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account’ (Heb. 4:12-13). How do we know we have the sin virus? The Spirit works with the Word to scan our heart. As Jesus said, ‘And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment’ (John 16:8). What do you do with your sin-virus, i.e., your guilt and your feeling of guilt? Jesus fixed this on the cross. Ask God about it. ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved’ (Rom. 10:8-10).

A clear conscience before God is a heart cleaned of the sin-virus.