Mid January I bought a new computer. It is not the first I have bought. I have been known to repair, build and rebuild all kinds of computers from laptops to desktops. Sonja knows that I love to do this, but she also knows how frustrated I get when things don’t go the way they should, and they never do with computers. Electronics and electrical technology have always held my fascination. When it comes to computers, the mystery of the electron under the direction of on and off states stored on platters of metal and plastic, but liberated to roam the planet through channels of copper and glass fibres provide many possibilities for both good and evil. I am still often in awe of God’s creative power and the ingenuity of the human mind to make use of His creation.
A mere decade ago personal computers were just starting to reach into the homes of the general population. Now we cannot seem to do without them. They are machines which provide entertainment and music, and allow us to manage finances and our information needs. Connect them to the public network of the internet and whole new worlds open up to amaze, enthral and also tempt.
I have a confession to make. Many hours were spent planning how to set up my new computer. I lay in bed at night thinking how I would transfer the data from the old machine in a way that would ensure nothing was lost. That’s something almost inevitable. You think you have everything in place and find you have forgotten one small but critical item - the address book of the e-mail program, or e-mails of the past year. So while my new machine was being assembled to my precise specifications, things were carefully being arranged in my mind and on paper of what needed to be remembered and done, and I enjoyed every moment of it. The anticipation was sweet.
It was then that I began to experience some problems of conscience — how often do I put that kind of concentrated effort into prayer and communicating my heart to God, and opening His Word to hear Him speak to me? Of course, I pray and spend time in the Word — how could I not and still bring you His Word in preaching? But the anticipation, the planning and the setting up of my machine were more consuming.
Perhaps you don’t have that experience with computers. Perhaps the thing that makes your heart beat a little faster is your car, or your sound system. Perhaps it’s not even an object but your grandchildren or that bright eyed person of the opposite sex. Whatever it is, I am also quite sure that you know what I am driving at. How easy it is to put aside time for these things that enthral us, when our enjoyment of the voice of God in Scripture ought to be as much and more than all else.
A rather searching and uncomfortable question was put to me in something I read which disturbed my conscience even more, and I needed to hear it! If you were laid low with the failure of one of your major internal organs, let’s say it is your heart, and you were told by the doctors you only have days to live, would you want your family to sit by your bed and read to you the latest developments at Microsoft or Apple, or would you want them to read from the Bible? What would happen to all those plans and desires after the doctor has left your side, and the end of this life beckons with a force you want to resist but know you can’t? What happens to the fascination for electrons, CPU cores, hyper threading, wide screen television, blue ray, birthday celebrations, wet kisses from grand children and iPhones and iPods?
That’s when the appeal of all those things will vanish in an instant, and the reality of eternity will be revealed in all its unobstructed sharpness. That will be when we will wonder how we could ever have been so entranced and captivated by the machines and attractions of man’s inventions. Then we will be presented with a view of grandeur and glory that will instantly consume all the attention and wonder we will give it, because Jesus will be there!
That will also be the moment we will see an equally but opposite view of the utter ugliness of sin and Satan’s world. Nothing will be there to obstruct this view either. This is the valley of the shadow of death as the Psalmist speaks of it (Ps 23:4). Both the majesty and wonder of the house of God, and the dark horror of the house of Satan will be exposed to full view in that time when all the attachments of this world are stripped away.
Friends, there is a mighty conflict being waged for our souls, and all the attractions of this world and this life are purpose designed by the evil one to desensitise us to the combat between the Holy Spirit and Satan for our life. They are designed to divert our attention from the glory and wonder of living in the house of the Lord forever.
Let us be sure we keep a Spirit enhanced and Biblically true grasp of reality where all things are kept in the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6).

Albert Esselbrugge