“Signs of the Time” By Pastor Joe

“Signs of the Time”                                                                      By Pastor Joe  

2 Timothy 3:1-5 reads, 'You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!’ 

Often you can find me using my iPhone 14plus for transcribing the thoughts tied to a specific passage for each of these articles. My thought for today is how technology and the amazing abilities within our phones, laptops (or desk top computers or any high-tech device) can sway our spiritual growth. Primarily how they can lead us down pathways of bad behavior(selfishness/sinfulness).

30 years ago all of these technologies would've been secretive and at best used by the military or some “spy type” of agency. Here we are in 2024 and you can buy a laptop for less than $200, a smart phone for less than $40, and a television less than 1 inch thick is only $100. With a smart phone, you can talk with someone halfway around the world for free, depending upon what app you have on your phone or smart device.

Notice our passage talks about being “lovers of self” and an overwhelming number of pictures posted on the internet are called “selfies”. Many users of social media platforms have invested in a device called a “selfie stick”, the overwhelming majority of individuals using these platforms thrive on people responding to them. Clearly they want you to become a follower and possibly financially support them and at the least they want you to “like” what they are doing. 

God has given mankind the ability to create amazing technology, and it can be used for good and sadly it can be used for evil. Most browsing which is done on the internet is for the purpose of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life. (Selfishness). We need to protect ourselves from technology while at the same time embracing everything it can do for us as individuals, families, and even the kingdom of God.

Imagine if we could get the gospel out to every home within 15 miles of the church because of the ability to podcast are sermons? What if we sent out daily devotionals to encourage people with a timely scripture? Just imagine all the ways with technology we could send out eternal information about the love of God to our neighborhood. So whatever we can do with technology; to advance the gospel, to help broaden our communication abilities with our neighbors, our family near and far, even are close intimate family- let's take advantage of what we have. Let’s learn to be selfless, to be a true servant, fully surrendered to our Savior. Let there be no selfishness found in our hearts. You and I were not born by chance in the 20th or 21st century, so it's our responsibility to be all things to all people, that we might win a few. If you are only using your smart devices and laptops for Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, browsing, Amazon, Google search,(you get the idea) we need to expand our reasons for owning these devices. The Kingdom of God information for Bible Study, for downloading great sermons, for advanced Sunday school training, men's ministry, women's ministry, youth group, children's church, or whatever is a great resource. So please take advantage of these high tech tools and let's do it all to the glory of God, because Jesus is coming back, soon!