Surviving in an Era of Exponential Change

I recently read an article about “information overload” and was shocked to find that it described the classic symptoms that I often experience, thinking that I am the only one in this predicament.

Truth be told, we are living in an era of unprecedented change. Technology is changing so rapidly that even the tech-savvy youth of today are starting to battle to cope with the overwhelming rate of change. Have you experienced one of those days where you feel like information is being thrown at you from every conceivable angle until you’re totally overwhelmed with the sheer volume of things you have to remember, learn and practice? Whether it’s in the professional world or the classroom, we find the exponential rate of change disrupting the circadian rhythm of our linear lifestyles.

Many people often find themselves the hapless victims of the “overdose of change” they’re experiencing. It sometimes feels like it’s just too much to have to cope with in too short a space of time. The average person experiences far greater stress in this generation than was ever experienced before.  Besides having to cope with the stresses of keeping up with changes in one’s profession, people must contend with ever-changing legislation, together with the stress of maintaining a balanced family life, as well as finding time for extracurricular activities. There is often not much time left for relaxation or contemplation as everyone engages in the daily rat-race. In fact, it is not uncommon to find yourself so busy just working that you’re not able to even take time to gauge your productivity level or recall what exactly you’ve accomplished on any given day!

In the midst of the turmoil and stress of life, it’s most often our time with God that suffers the most. Most people just manage to get by on a few minutes of prayer whispered hurriedly before dashing off to work, or the odd and often incomplete, unintelligible prayer which precedes sleep. We are fighting a losing battle against constant change and we are paying the price in poor health, depression, increased instances of suicide, alcoholism, sleep deprivation and other unwholesome practices. When we need Him most, we seem to deny God.

We can learn an important lesson from the life of Christ as written in the gospels. He arose early and spent time in prayer, daily restoring the vital connection with His Father.  He understood that to neglect this duty would be akin to committing spiritual suicide. Remember, what happens to you spiritually soon dictates your physical state too. We are not coping.

In the midst of change that constantly pulls the foundation out from under us, we need God as our sure foundation and immovable Rock. He is the ONE constant in our lives! Jesus Christ is our anchor in the midst of turmoil and overwhelming change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased."- Dan 12:4 

"And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no  end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Eccles 12:12-13 

Scripture refs: Heb 13:8, Mal 3:6, Dan 12:4, Prov 3:5-6, Eccles 12:12-13

Life and Death part 2-The Love of God and the Law of God

In Part 1, I discussed how the love of God is enough to keep a person alive by daily providing a reason to live.

Sometimes however, we also need the commands of a stern Father to keep us from doing the unthinkable. When a person feels like there is nothing left to live for, the commandments of God serve as a protective barrier against evil. The commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex 20:13) resonates down through the ages to us and in this day and age, is a lifesaver to a person who is so deep in depression that he cannot feel God’s love. Knowing God and His royal Law could mean the difference between life and death. The Christian has a distinct advantage over the average person when it comes to dealing with depression and the suicidal tendencies it sometimes creates in the heart and mind of man. While we may shut out God’s love, we cannot silence His commandments!

I believe that the commandment not to kill was not just intended to prevent us from murdering others, but also to protect ourselves. Sometimes, a person’s worst enemy is himself and this is especially true for those locked in the solitary deserts of depression.

When a Christian feels like giving up on life, he has not only God’s love but also His commandments to help him out of the icy grip of depression and death. Killing yourself will not solve any problems, but it will mean that you have disobeyed God and will face the consequences in judgement. Just the thought of not having a place in God’s kingdom is enough to bring stability to a troubled mind. Being separated from God is no joke; it was the one thing our Lord feared as evidenced by His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

However, in order for you to experience the protective, keeping power of God’s Law as well as His love, you must determine why you want to be in His eternal kingdom. This means asking a question which may prove difficult for some. Are you only following Jesus so that you can one day wear a crown or walk on streets of gold and a sea of glass? Would you still be a Christian if Jesus promised you nothing but atonement for your sins and the lowliest place in His kingdom? Would gazing into His face every day in worship be enough of a reward for you if there were no crowns or streets of gold promised?

If your answer to this question is in the negative, then your so- called devotion will never stand the test of time. Life is difficult and the desire for riches, whether it be now or in the new Heavens and Earth, will not be enough incentive to help you when you hit rock - bottom and have to make a choice whether life is worth living. At that point in time, it’s only a relationship with the Lifegiver that will save you. When you refuse to feel His continual love enveloping you, knowing His commands will save your life, because you cannot disobey as you will be risking your chance to spend eternity in His company and that’s an awful lot to lose!

Scripture refs: Deut 30:19; Job 6:11; Job 7:15; Ps 21:4; Ps 119:11,25,55; Prov 14:27; John 1:4

Life and Death (Part 1)

“Do not go gentle into that good night…but rage, rage against the dying of the light…” Those were the words of a poet a long time ago. He wrote that death is something to be fought with every ounce of strength we have. Although the fear of death is not a healthy approach to life, neither is living with a death wish.

Life is difficult, and somewhere in the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of living we have forgotten the sanctity and sacredness of life. Life is a gift given by God and not something that we are entitled to. Life is God’s breath in us from the time He stooped down and breathed it into the lifeless form of Adam in Eden.

We have lost the will to live and as a result, many people commit suicide in an effort to take the easy way out. Some do it because of the uncaring actions and hurtful words of kinsfolk, while others simply believe that their contribution to the world is insignificant at best.

The Bible teaches much about life and death. Deut 30:19 says life is a choice. Life is God’s gift, but we choose whether we want to live or not and to some extent, what type of life we have. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. It is therefore important to speak words of life into someone’s soul and not words that kill their self-esteem, erode their emotional worth and make them forget that they are a son or daughter of the Most High God.

The book of Job teaches us that although we face diverse challenges in life, God is still in control and He still holds our lives in His hand. He even controls the reach and power of satan so that we are not destroyed by him (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).

Sometimes it is not the final act of suicide that kills a person, but the process of worry and stress which gradually erodes a person’s life force. Jesus said that we should not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough has problems in itself to deal with (Matt 6:34).  Worrying will not make tomorrow any easier to deal with, neither will it add one day to your lifespan. This does not mean that one should not plan ahead and prepare for life; by all means be prudent and prepare, but don’t let worry kill you.  God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).  Rest assured that God is not constrained to time and He knows your tomorrow and He walks with you.

When Jesus died, He didn’t just take away my sins. He gave me a reason to live. I can face tomorrow because even if no one else cares, I know He cares and He loves me and that’s more than enough. Life is difficult, but life without God is even worse. The righteous man falls seven times, but he gets up in the strength of God every time! (Prov 24:16) We have Christ now and we will be with Him forever in His new Kingdom (1 Cor 15:19, Rev 21). That’s reason enough to want to live!