The Advancement of Technology

Daniel 12: 1 - 4, "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-everyone whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." NIV

It seems of late that the world has gotten on a fast-track when it comes to the advancement of technology. The foundation of technology is knowledge; and it has increased in the past decade like never before. During the industrial revolution, people's eyes and attention were focused on what man could extract from the earth and create for the betterment of society. Horse-drawn carriages gave way to cars and trucks. Plows that were pulled by oxen or mules were quickly replaced with farm tractors, which made agriculture easier for those who lived on farms; and humans were no longer limited to travel on the ground because aeronautics was introduced as the new, quicker way to get to your destination.

However, in recent decades, it seems that the industrial age has given way to the era of technology. We can now send an e-letter to someone on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds. Therefore, it seems our focus has been turned from that which man can extract from the earth; in today's world, we are captivated by the wisdom of man and his ability to move us with the latest and greatest electronic discovery. 

In many ways, life through technology has been enhanced and made much easier. It is as though there is no limit to what man can imagine and design. Now we have 3-D and 4-D imagery that pulls you into the very center of the action. Technology has shown us how to live life in a virtual world that has no bounds.

Even so, all this knowledge, technology, and various modes of travel were foretold by a prophet named Daniel. The God of creation and eternity revealed to Daniel things that would occur in the last days before the return of Christ to the earth. So as great as the technology and discoveries of our time are, we must not forget our God, who said how it would be... centuries before it happened. 

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that knowledge will vanish. Like a fleeting thought of the mind, the technology that we are awed by today will be a thing of the past very soon. Obviously, God considered the knowledge and the technological advancements of our day as being note-worthy, or He wouldn't have shown them to his servant Daniel. It doesn't matter how old the Bible is because it is just as relevant today as it was in Daniel's time. Therefore, the Word of God must continue to be a part of our lives just as much as the breakthroughs and discoveries of today's modern world. We must learn how to break free from just being infatuated by today's electronic wizardry and learn how to utilize the tools that God has placed in our hands to reach a world with the "Good News" of Jesus Christ. 

Instead of drowning ourselves in the electronic age as a means of escape from the real world or separating ourselves from the world's advancements altogether, why not capitalize on this wave of knowledge for God's glory? After all, it is God who said these things would occur, and they have. The internet, social media, electronic devices, satellite, and, etc. are all forms of communications; and what greater message to be communicated than the hope that is found in Jesus and His cross.

I encourage you to both learn about and utilize the tools of today's technology to further your reach as a witness of Christ so that He might save a world that has become distracted by the frills of this modern age. Not since the Garden of Eden have we seen "knowledge" promise mankind so much as a way to distract us from what is really important... the will of God for our lives.  
 
Press "LIKE",
Pastor Asa Dockery