WWW

Burt Jones

"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.

 

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