"Their webs shall not become garments, neither
shall they cover themselves with their work; their works are works
of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands" (Isaiah
59:6). "Their webs shall not become garments, neither
shall they cover themselves with their work; their works are works
of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands" (Isaiah
59:6).
The world in which we live was prepared for us
by the dreams and disappointments, work and limitations, the successes
and failures of our fathers and grandfathers. They bequeathed
to us the world of a simpler day, with better manners and a more
honorable work ethic; but, in a sense so real that it need not
be stressed, they have innocently handed us the worst of worlds.
They have flooded our lives with a world-wide web that has harnessed
the mighty power of the atom and shattered the prohibitive veil
of outer space. Unfortunately, the web ensnaring each of us has
created a monster of which Dr. Frankenstein would have been proud.
The book of Job tells of the paths of those who
forget God and the hypocrite whose hope would perish. The Bible
states that their hope would be cut off and their trust a spider's
web (Job 8:13, 14).
The world-wide web of communication available
to those of us today who never thought they would even learn who
Dot Com is has shown us a thrilling but a threatening world and,
if God somehow continues to allow us to live in it, we must learn
to live in it together.
The anti-God philosophy witnessed most noticeably
during the recent presidential and congressional elections has
shown us just how immune atheism and evolution are from criticism.
There is the grave danger in being a victim of
this web that some of our brothers and sisters in Christ will
barter their talents on the table of worldly gain and succumb
to the pressures to be quiet and ordinary. "But, beloved
I am persuaded better things of you, and things which accompany
salvation" (Hebrews 9:6).
It matters little whether your web happens to
be one of alcohol, materialism, power or influence selfishly used,
gluttony, or gossip. It does matter that God has providentially
chosen us for this time. We did not choose our talents, but God
has given us sufficient talents.
Now, we must choose whether to double those talents
or bury them (Matthew 25:14-30). The greatest tragedy of all will
be to allow ourselves to be ensnared in this world-wide web and
to bury these God given abilities beneath an avalanche of things.
"To whomsoever much is given, of him shall
much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him
will they ask the more" (Luke 12:48). -P.O. Box 531, Marietta,
Ohio 45750.