Weekly Witness

     Recently there has been a lot of news reports about Artificial Intelligence (AI).  Needless to say, there is a whole range of opinions about the impact this developing technology will have on society.  One thing is for sure, it will continue to be developed and the only real concern is what country will gain control over it and how will that effect the rest of the world?  There seems to be one side that is beginning to sound like chicken little.  A “Political Cartoon” was recently published showing that very thing because some politicians have been pronouncing the demise of humanity for a long time by either global warming, climate change and now AI.  Well, here’s a news flash, they are all a little slow on the uptake because God pronounced the demise of the world as we know it a very long time ago.  Thankfully, God is patient with humanity because of his great love and that time has just not come as yet; but it is coming.

  Even scientists have been telling us for decades that our very sun will eventually burn out, albeit, not for another few billion years, according to them.  Nevertheless, a time is coming when time shall be no more and it appears that most people are in agreement regardless of which political, scientific or religious perspective is being represented.  The real question is how each individual will deal with all this fear mongering.  Sadly, many people have been inoculated against the fear of demise whether it comes by personal or global means.  Fear subsides when the chicken littles of this world keep running around telling us the sky is falling when we can see perfectly well it is not falling.  Hence, why listen and why be afraid?  Considering that our sun may burn out some day, it is so far off that one really doesn’t need to even think about it.  Yet, science is telling us of an observed fact that stars do eventually burn out.  Our world indeed does experience changes in the climate and some of those changes are immediate through all the different types of storms, be they hurricanes, tornados or flooding; and, some take longer through erosion by wind or water.  From ancient times the world has seen sever famines where thousands of people have died.  And yet, here we are plugging along and the world goes on, so why be afraid and why be concerned.

As people of faith and believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we do understand the reality of fear; and, we have learned how to deal with it.  The Bible teaches that we are to develop a “fear of the Lord” which is the beginning of our becoming wise and seeking knowledge.  Proverbs 9:10 says clearly,

The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

The more we learn of God the more we realize that it is not the ending of the world we should fear but God Himself.  What we come to believe is that fearing God is not like the trembling fear from a charging grizzly bear or a hungry lion but acknowledging the great power of God and seeking to learn how to please Him.  Hebrews 11:6 speaks of what our faith is meant to do regarding the fear of the Lord. 

Without faith it is impossible to please [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Our faith is grounded in God’s love for the world and it is that very thing that draws us toward Him.  The Apostle John also tells us that perfect love casts out fear.  (I John 4:18)  The more we learn how to love God the more our fear of all the chaos in the world diminishes.  If you have been captured by the fear mongering about AI and climate change and whatever else you have heard about the end of time, then it is time to ask God to give wisdom and to consider His great power as Creator of all things.  God is more powerful than anything AI can bring to the world.  Trust Him with all your heart!

Pastor David