Life Matters - February 21, 2024
“But if not, let it be known to thee oh king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image that thou hast set up.” The resolve of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego to worship no other god except the God who created us came through to Nebuchadnezzar so clearly that he was filled with fury. (Daniel 3) So furious was the king at what he clearly understood (and rightly so) to be a rejection of himself and human nature as being the ultimate authority on earth, that he ordered the furnace, into which these three young men were to be thrown, heated ‘’seven times more than it was wont to be heated.’’ The three had remained unmoved by the threats of the king, and had made their ultimate allegiance clear, saying, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” And then the clincher, the three words, ‘’But if not…” that drove understanding of the strength of their resolve deep into the heart of Nebuchadnezzar, evoking that furious outburst of a death sentence upon them. At this point there was no turning back. Resolve ran deep on both sides. Calm resolve rested upon and in these three men. Furious resolve burst out of the proud heart and mouth of Nebuchadnezzar. The covert reality of two incompatible kingdoms had burst out of hiding into the open light of day. Aside from one or the other changing ultimate allegiance, there was no turning back.
The question of ultimate allegiance has been a ‘’touchy’’ one ever since Adam and Eve chose their own feelings above the tried, true, and settled Word of God. Feelings of doubting God’s Word on Eve’s part, and on Adam’s part, feelings for his wife and a shift of loyalty, as God’s Word tells us that Adam was not deceived. (1 Timothy 2:14) We have the opportunity, the privilege, of individually giving that ultimate allegiance back to God. It is rightfully His. The first Adam failed. ‘’The second man is the Lord from heaven…’’ “The last Adam was made a quickening spirit.‘’ (1 Corinthians 15:45-47)
The nature of the first Adam is natural to all of us as our allegiance goes naturally to the feelings of our flesh as we are born into this world. For babies it is a matter of survival. Physical survival, that is. We tend not to outgrow that ultimate allegiance to the feelings of our flesh and if that trust in the flesh is allowed to continue, we eventually trust our feelings to lead us to security and happiness. A security and happiness that becomes more elusive seemingly to the same degree that we seek after it. Or perhaps even more so. And herein is the problem, is it not?
We learn something extremely valuable from the way God made us. We learn that neither security nor happiness comes to those who seek after it upon its own merit. At least none that lasts for long. There is nothing eternally secure nor intrinsically happy in this world save in the redemptive cleansing that Jesus Christ does in the heart and mind of every repentant sinner who comes to Him for forgiveness. The comfort of His Holy Spirit is security and because that security is an eternal one there comes with it a deep, settled joy that goes beyond happiness because it is, indeed, out of this world. It has the “touch” of eternity.
Here we find the ‘’secret’’ to the martyr’s strength. The strength of those through whom God has done miracles. The strength of the prophets. The strength of those who were brutally tortured. Killed. The strength of those who lived. The strength of those strong in faith as in Hebrews chapter eleven. The secret of their strength. The strength of those who calmly said, “but if not.”
May we pray for an extra measure of that faith as we face what’s ‘’coming down the pike.” Or perhaps, ‘’coming through the air’’ is a more accurate description as digital technology “comes of age” and “hits the skids” on its breathtaking slide toward becoming artificially intelligent. While “intelligent” machines may initially be lauded by many as if it were a fast-track return to the garden of Eden, by many more who are simply tired of having to think for themselves, and by even more who see advantageous heads to step on in the mad scramble for the top of the pile, there are already warning signs. And warning voices from many who have seen the signs of warning developing from early on. Elon Musk, in a position to know, is one of those, warning us that AI has the potential to be more dangerous than nuclear. That indeed is frightening.
Were Elon Musk speaking from a spiritual perspective, I would instantly, without hesitation, agree with him, because I see clearly the potential for Biblical end-time prophecy to be fulfilled, on the negative side, with the use of digital technology as the Devil exploits it for his own ends, through his minions. Perhaps just before the feet of the redeemed leave this beleaguered globe, we will, in a moment of reflection, say to the enemies of Truth, as Joseph said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, “You thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good.” (Genisis 50:20) And then, as our feet leave this earth, our gaze turns heavenward to our redemption that is nigh. Even so come Lord Jesus.
Life Matters!