COMPUTER CHRISTIANS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise
of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.
(Romans 4:20)

MEDITATION:
Computers have become a part of everyone’s life.
More than likely all of us have experienced
problems with these electronic devices.
Most are not computer technicians so
consequently they are inept at resolving the problems.

However, many know that there are two things they can try.
One is called a ‘warm reboot’ (which means we ‘restart’ the computer).
Typically, a warm reboot is performed by pressing
the CTRL-ALT-DEL key simultaneously within the Windows OS.

A ‘warm reboot’ basically restores the computer to its normal working operations,
resolves program errors, or initiates changes in an installed application.
The second option is referred to as a ‘cold reboot’
which is powering off the computer and turning it back on
(sometimes this will resolve problems that a restart missed).

When all else fails, we take it to the ‘computer doctor’.
There are different options for them to try.
One is to scan the computer for viruses
which have infiltrated the computer,
Viruses attempt to corrupt the programs and
operating systems installed on the computer.

Some viruses cause the programs and operating systems to
perform in a manner that is contrary to what they were intended to do.
When all else fails, they will often perform what is called
a ‘clean reboot’, which will reset the computer to its original factory state
(in essence it deletes everything and reinstalls the operating system).

This means that we can lose all of our data files, so if possible,
we need to create copies of the files we want to keep
(pictures spreadsheets, documents, etc.).
Unfortunately, some of the data files can be infected with
viruses, which means that if we reload these data files after
a ‘clean reboot’, our computer can once again be corrupted.

Why would I share this information about computers?
Because I believe there is a correlation to living the Christian life.
There are times when our Christian life isn’t performing
like it should be (or like it was performing at one time).

Sometimes we perform a ‘warm reboot’.
We make a conscious effort to correct some things in our life,
but we fail to change everything, and some corruption remains.

Then we perform a ‘cold reboot’.
We make a conscious effort to correct more things in our life,
but there are still some things from our ‘old life’ which
keep hanging around and corrupting our Christian life.

Finally, we realize that we must take our broken and corrupted
life as a Christian, to the “Spiritual Doctor” (aka God).
We ask, and then trust Him, to fix whatever we have broken.
It doesn’t abdicate our own responsibilities of making changes,
but it does express our confidence that He will help
as we make corrections.

But, at the same time, we must avoid making mental copies
of the things which are causing the corruptions in our Christian
life (the things that have been breaking our relationship with God).
If we restore these things, then we will
soon find our life as a Christian corrupted once again.

ACTION:
One thing we can all agree on is, sin tempts us, it is relentless,
ruthless, powerful, clever in its tactics, and it is bent on ruining
our Christian life, destroying our witness, and breaking our
relationship with God.

We have to admit that we cannot battle with Satan,
or fix what he has broken, in our own strength.
However, we have a powerful ally (omnipotent God)
who can give us victory.

Satan wants to convince believers that God
doesn’t love them and they do not belong to Him.
This is why we need to be familiar with the scriptures
(it is God’s side of the story from His own words).

When we read Romans 8:38-39, we can see
that Satan is a liar and should never be listened to.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels
nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

So rather than trying to correct things ourselves with
‘warm’ and ‘cold’ reboots, we should skip our wasted
efforts and go to God for a ‘clean reboot’, if we have
a sincere desire to ‘un-corrupt’ our lives.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You know the power and influence Satan
can have on my life. You also know of my poor defense against
his attacks, and especially in the areas where I am weakest and
more susceptible to temptation. Father, I pray that You would
overcome the evil one on my behalf. Thank You for Your gift
of the Holy Spirit who defends me more than I know, prays for
me, encourages me, and guides me through the process of being
‘remolded’ into more of a likeness of Your Son, Jesus.”

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