iDol

Thinking on the lonely in our culture has had me deep in thought.  I've studied scripture, spent a lot of time praying over this and now I'm just going to cut to the chase and give you my opinions.

I think iPhones, technology, Facebook, the Internet, Twitter, all of it is being used to deceive us.  I think these things can very quickly become iDols in our lives.  They are making real relationship die and they are reeling us in, in unhealthy ways.

An idol is something that is adored, often blindly or excessively.

It is something visible but without substance. A pretender. An impostor.

Have you ever been deceived?  It is an awful feeling.  You have been tricked.  No one likes being misled.  I believe Satan is causing mankind, Christians included, to become way too dependant and addicted to technology.

Take a look at Genesis 3.  The first sin.  Satan, called a deceiver and crafty, tricks Eve.  Think about the symbol of the first sin in the garden.

An apple with one bite taken out of it.  One bite is all it took to destroy perfect relationship with God in the garden.  Now look at the back of your phone.  I don't think for one second that is a coincidence.  I believe that Satan is crafty enough to have people everywhere right where he wants them.  We're so blind, we don't even see it.

Some words that define the tree and the fruit that was not to be touched:  When you eat it your eyes will be opened, it contains knowledge of good things and knowledge of evil things, it looked good for food and was pleasing to the eye, it was desirable for gaining wisdom.  Everything about the appearance of the tree looked good.  However, God has warned, "Do not eat from that tree.  I have given you all the provision you need, and I've given it in abundance, but I warn you.  If you eat from that tree, you will surely die."

You know the story, with one bite, an apple became the symbol of Satan deceiving mankind.
I think back to the donut shop.  I remember the restaurant.  I look at my own days and how FB or blogs can pull me in, wasting valuable time.  This draw toward being tied to technology.  I know the sinking feeling when I'm driving somewhere only to realize I don't have my phone with me.  It's horrible.  What if this happens?  What if that happens?  Fear. 

Why do people want the iPhone with Internet capability 24/7?  To have knowledge.  What if I'm in a big city and want to find the nearest Starbucks?  I'll just be able to pull it up and it will be so convenient for me.  At the touch of my fingers, I have instant access to the World Wide Web.

After doing some research, I have found some interesting things in regard to Apple.  I would not be one bit surprised if Apple is the company who produces the mark that Revelation calls "the mark of the beast."  The first Apple computer was sold in California for $666.66.  With the release of the iPhone 5 one analyst predicted that Apple stock will reach $666.  You can click this link here to see the CNBC video.  Between the Internet and Apple products, I believe the Christian community needs to be watchful and mindful.

From what I understand, the Greek and Hebrew alphabet does not assign separate numbers from letters.  So, a letter can be the same thing as a number.  The Hebrew equivalent for our letter "w" is the is the letter "Vav".  The number equivalent for "Vav" is 6. WWW.  "Vav Vav Vav" or "666". 
A craving to have knowledge of good and evil.  Does that describe our desire to have the latest and greatest?

Just last week, I saw a commercial about a little device you can purchase at Wal-Mart.  For $14.99 a month, you can put a device with your child and know where he is at anytime.  Now you tell me, what is more valuable to you than the safety of your child?  Is technology moving us towards too much reliance on its benefits?
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(Below are Scripture references that talk about the number 666 and warnings that accompany it)

Scripture warns us to be watchful, mindful, alert and self-controlled.  Scripture is clear that the Antichrist will come.  Scripture says in Rev 13 that when the Antichrist comes, he will perform miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down to earth in full view of men.  Because of his signs, he'll have the power to deceive the inhabitants of the earth.  He will force everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.  This calls for wisdom.  If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number.  His number is 666."

No one will be able to buy or sell without the mark.  Oh my gosh, we can't even find a Starbuck's without an iPhone, it makes perfect sense that our reliant culture would flock to the device for livelihood.

Here's what Rev 14:9 says.  "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too will have to drink the cup of God's fury"

Rev 16:2 says, "The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image."

Rev 19:20 says, "But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf.  With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image."
Reb 20:4 says, "I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of there testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God.  They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.  They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."  Verse 6 says blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.

Friends, we need to be always on the watch.  I don't know the time he will come.  All I have is Scripture to warn me and give me promise.

In Matthew 24, Jesus says, "Watch out that no one deceives you.  I will give you signs that my return is near.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.  Do not be alarmed.  Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.    Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm till the end will be saved."

The iPhone and all modern technology is supposed to be enriching our lives, but is it?  Have we been deceived?  Is eating the Apple leading us toward death?  Death of real relationship and reliance on God?