One of the shows I remember watching when I was a kid was the Jetsons. I wasnít a big fan but I did like all the technology I saw in the show. They talked to each other through what looked like a TV. They flew around in space. They had robots that interacted with the family members. The future of technology looked attractive.
In my teenage years, I was introduced to ěStar Wars.î There were powerful computers everywhere that aided in all aspects of life. Their robots were almost lifelike and seemed to have distinct personalities. The technology and where it might take us sure seemed appealing to me. I wanted that kind of technology in my life.
As an adult, I enjoy watching the ěStar Trek Next Generationî series. The idea of space travel is very appealing. There is plenty of wonderful technology to enjoy. Food is prepared when you walk up to a replicator and tell it what you want to eat. The dishes are done when you place them back on the replicator and they are dissolved. There is the holodeck, a vacation from life at any time. Crew members use tablet computers for everything. Computers talk and interact with people. If that is the future, I think I am ready for it.
I gave Skype a try recently. I talked with my uncle, and it was really cool to see him while we chatted. It gives me hope that what was once science fiction might just become reality. It seems more and more likely that we could actually enjoy that kind of technology in my lifetime. We have made such huge strides in computer and medical technology. I wonder if I will get to witness and experience commercial space travel.
As technology changes, it needs to be updated. Very few people use VCRs anymore. Many of my students donít use CDs either. They download their music and movies. We hope to be streaming videos soon at my house; it is the way of the future.
Our faith needs similar upgrades. When you were a child, your faith was simple. As an adult, your faith should be deeper and stronger. I am not suggesting that you wonít have times of doubt or struggle with your faith, but experience with God should help you believe in him and his faithfulness to you. As you grow older, you should feel more secure in Godís love for you, which in turn should strengthen your faith in God.
While God wants you to have simple, child-like faith in him, he also expects you to grow and mature in your faith. He expects you to stretch yourself spiritually. God wants you to have a bigger faith in him. He wants you to believe for things that you couldnít imagine three or four years ago. Heís hoping that as you see him move faithfully in your life that you will trust him for even greater things.
God is bigger than we can imagine and more powerful than our minds can conceive. God likes when we find ourselves in situations that are overwhelming. That means we have to turn to him as our source of strength to overcome. When we overcome then we will have a bigger testimony to Godís faithfulness. Hopefully when we find ourselves in another overwhelming situation we will immediately trust in God instead of submitting to fear. Weíll remember that God helped us overcome before and believe in his ability to help us overcome again.
God likes overwhelming odds so we can see him come to our defense. If we only knew how much God wants to fight for us, we would believe God for more and more. God wants us to expand our territory, to reach beyond our current self-imposed limits. God is limitless in what he will do for people who believe and trust him for great things.
I want to encourage you to upgrade your faith. I am not suggesting unwise things, but believing that he wants you to fulfill your dreams and your heartís desire. I am suggesting that your influence can increase in your workplace and personal life. You are Godís secret agent sent to do greater things than you imagined in the place he has you right now. So put God to the test in some small ways to see if he will be faithful to you in your circumstances. God has faith in you, have faith in him.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com