Future Shock

Technology is transforming at a rate that tech majors two to three years into their Bachelor's courses discover that all they learned is now obsolete. Our world is rapidly changing and many are having a hard time adapting. The sensation that tech and the times is moving too fast is called "future shock." I remember a time when there were few television channels, no internet, VHS tapes you had to rewind, cassette tapes (instead of CDs and iTunes) you had to rewind, and video game systems like NES, SEGA Genesis, SNES, and Gameboy that played 6-18bit games (2D). In those days we had land line phones, the receiver with curly wire you had to hold to your head, and cellphones were giant, and when they did become smaller they were flip phones and only for emergencies. Fast forward and now we have Blu-ray DVD instead of VHS, digital music iTunes instead of cassettes, and video games that have surpassed 64bits and actually are so life like they complete with the movies. The internet is now a staple, you can access all knowledge from your computer, tablets, and mini-pocket computer and phone called Smartphone.

And now it is all about to change again. There are now virtual reality googles/glasses that you put your phone in to have 360 degree experience, and holograms are certainly the next step. Soon screens will be only part of interface, you will be touching air that can tell what digital keys you a pressing, and the devices that Science Fiction imagined are now here, the device that healed people on Enterprise D in Star Trek Next Generation is now here, call Proton therapy that eliminates cancer cells better than chemotherapy and leaves the patient still energized, without losing major tissue or polluting their cells and killing their immune system. As Dr. Bones said of 21st Century doctors, "This is medievalism," and "My God man, drilling holes in his head isn't the answer!" (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home). We soon will be speaking like Bones, and calling the old methods of medicine Medieval.

While many benefits come from the breakthroughs in technology in its many forms, our hearts are restless as we try to keep up. While we adapt and good additions to life, we cannot help but noticed that skyscrapers do not settle our souls like the sea or metallic metropolis cannot compare with mountains and enchanted woodlands. Despite all our brilliant technological advances, mankind keeps finding itself coming back to the ancient, old, and Created. We are even drawn to periods of history where paces were slower, and art was on canvas instead of cyberspace like in Middle Ages, Renaissance of the Arts (16th Century), Elizabethan Era, The Victorian Period, and more. What is this yearning for the changeless? The yearning is for our Savior and Creator. For the Bible says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). We are drawn to changeless in every century, in the art, nature, dress, customs, and more because God is changeless, "I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." (Malachi 3:6). Our hearts as we embrace change find a rebellion within, because we want things to stay the same, this is because God is always the same as aforementioned.

It is not that God is at war with change, rather He is changeless in ever changing climate and world. In fact the reason this yearning for stability comes from fact that every good gift comes from God in whom there is no varaitian, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." (James 1:17). Perhaps melancholric people have strong strain of Savior within them, that they feel the changes more deeply because the Changeless One who is Christ is strong in their being? It is this changless nature of God that gives us peace, and stability in our souls. While we try to adapt to all gizmos, gadgets, technologies, and even cultural changes, we find sanctuary in Savior who is "The same yesterday, today, and forever." For while we must interact with a changing world as recncilers and ambassadors of God (2 Corinthians 5:18, 20), our purpose that comes from the Lord is changing, "In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath.." (Hebrews 6:17). Because we are in God and He is in us, His purpose lives within us! And because we are Temples of God () and He lives in us, we have the changeless nature inside at work inside us.

It is possible to balance this changeless center inside us and changing world. The fact we plugged into divine power of God makes it possible for us to do what others cannot. Christ is using the new technologies, and advances. In fact, one can interpret this as fufillment of this verse, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12). Certainly our Savior was talking about dwelling all who believe in Him, but I think the technology has a part in this, because Jesus preached in Judea, Samaria, and in some Greek seaports like Tyre, while St. Paul went to Spain, Arabia, Greece, and Rome. Now with technology we can share gospel with all nations in one second! We do not need ships or to walk on foot, now we can FaceTime, Skype, YouTube, facebook, twitter, email, blog, and much more; instantly sharing the Good News!


There is a time to utilize the change, but we must remember the changeless of God that draws us into His creation. While we navigate a new, we find ourselves drift to old. Perhaps there is balance, where we can use the benefits of the technologies, while staying true to the Truth and timeless aspects of this life that reveal God. Too many condemn the changing technology, and too many become changed by it; there is a balance, one can be fully committed to the Changeless Christ and live in ever changing world, for God though changeless controls the changing world in His hand. He reaches into the changes, and reveals to man His changeless purpose and plan of salvation  for those who believe (John 3:16).