Christianity, the Web, and Me

By Joel McNabb

For a little over two years now, I have been an explorer of sorts: when I am able to do so, I get on line and surf the Internet. I know that doesn’t sound very unusual, as millions surf the net 24/7.

Remember the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? The internet also has good and evil on it, as you are probably aware if you have ever been online. But, I’m not here to talk about all the evil that we should avoid, since your own conscience is supposed to do that work for you, if it is clean. I would like to give a testimony, and praise God for the revelation of computers and the ‘Net, that now opens the world to all.

It started for me in the 1980s. I avoided computers and all that went with them. One computer would come out and I would learn a little about it, and then they would upgrade to a newer and better one about every other week. The times were changing much too swiftly for me, and I felt that I couldn’t keep up with the pace they had set. Playing a video game was as close as I wanted to get to a computer, and I let others travel down the fast paced world of computers. 

The ‘90s passed me by as though it was just a moment, and I still could not get motivated to get involved with the whole ‘geek’ thing. I moved into the new millennium, and there were no signs that the computer age would have any effect on my life. It was happening all around me, and people from all over the world using computers, and I just let them do it. My youngest brother was the first to get a cell phone in our family; I remember asking him way back then, in 1994 or ‘95, “What do you need a cell phone for?” But not long after that, I broke down and got a cell phone myself, and, in a very short time, I couldn’t be without one.

The Lord was busy, and I wasn’t. He had set in motion His plan for the last days and the world would soon be ready for the return of his son Jesus. And here I was letting other people do it! I felt left behind, and I saw a need for me to do something, but I felt inadequate. How could someone so far behind catch up? I heard how easy it was, that I should just do it, and, by the grace of God and His will, I’m on the computer at this very moment. Praise God!

In 2006, I was sent by God to Tulsa, OK, to work with some of God’s people. I left everything to see what God had in store for me, and packed up and headed west. The week following my arrival, I had a job that paid about as much as my job in New England, and God had His hand in everything I did and asked for. It was amazing! While I have been in Tulsa, I have had to pretty much take care of myself when it came to the necessities. But I didn’t mind, since I knew the Lord was going to work things out. He wanted me to catch up, and where I was wouldn’t allow me to do so, because I was letting others do it. One might say I was lazy when it came to computers, though not in the things of God. The church here had a computer and I was a long distance from home, so I put my hand to the wheel and used it and began to learn. Most of the time it was trial and error, but I became more comfortable with computers.

It was a new world, and I found that it was a marvelous world, with many wonders and signs. I am still just a novice to it all, and I may never be an IT tech, but as long as I have access to a computer, I will use it for the glory of God, to help usher in His soon-coming kingdom.

Not long after my move to Oklahoma, I mentioned to one of the men I worked with that, if I had a laptop of my own, I might be able to learn more and become more familiar with this brand new world. This brother and friend had an older one that he said he was just using for a paper weight. Even though it was a little outdated, it was just what I needed. Thank you Jesus! I was on the new highway called the “information super highway:” the Internet.

I am truly excited to see all the wonders of our mighty Father, the great Creator of all things in heaven and earth, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16).

I don't think that Marconi invented the radio by himself, and I don't think that the radio was invented so we could listen to music either. God moves on man by His spirit the same way that He moved on holy men of old, and they wrote what He told them to write to give us His words to keep in our hearts. So also is the computer age that we have with us today. God created it, and it is for Him, that we could use it to spread His truth to as many as will hear before He sends His Son Jesus back to earth, to rule it for thousand years.

“For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work wills the Lord make upon the earth” (Rom. 9:28). God has a work that He has been doing with man for the past six thousand years, and for the next thousand years, He will rest and let Jesus run everything. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22). “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet, the last enemy is death. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:24-28).

We are living in the last days of His work here, and we see the prophet’s word coming to pass: knowledge shall be increased in the last days. It has only been a relatively short period of time from the flight of the Wright brothers (I think they had the right name) in 1903, to our current age of space travel. And the time is even closer now than when we first believed. Right here, in this computer age, God will wrap up this word of grace toward men, and we can be a part of this wondrous conclusion of His work on earth.

That is why I am thankful to God for allowing me to see how important it is for me to get on the computer and share His word with those that have an ear to hear. Whether it be to write a sermon, or chat with a fellow born again believer on a social network, or on YouTube, or on anything else that God has created for us to use, may it be done to the glory of God. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11).

There is good and evil in everything that is created. God put two trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is the same with the creation of the computer and the Internet: there are many things on the web that are filled with evil and should be avoided, but the good that is on it is there for us to use to the glory of God. There is an ability to spread the word in ways that we once thought impossible, but are now made possible. As it is written, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

I am excited about my Jesus’ return to rule this earth in righteousness, and I want to do my part, and be a part of His kingdom to come. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” There is no way I want to be left behind again. Whether on the ‘Net, or in the pulpit, or even on the street, I want the world to know that the kingdom of God is at hand and we need to be ready. Those of us, who believe and breathe the spiritual breath of new life in Christ Jesus, especially need to be ready. For we are supposed to be the light of the world, and, as long as we are allowed to let our light shine, we need to do it with all our might.

I will be happy see you on the web, or just chat. Last night, I chatted with my friend Tania Kennedy from New Zealand, and with my friend King’s Warrior from British Columbia, Canada: Christians whom I have met on Bebo, a social network where many believers have come to share the love of Christ and to learn from each other. As we share back and forth, you can feel the Holy Ghost moving even though we are not in the same room.

For almost three years now, on Saturday nights, we have had a video bible study at The People of Truth using Windows Live Messenger to bring those of us from other states together and search out God’s word. It is amazing to be able to see and hear each other, even though we are hundreds of miles apart. It is nice to be there in person, but when you are unable to be together, God has made a way, and it is almost like being in the same room.

The People of Truth have had a web site for a few years and it has been a blessing to be able to reach out to those who wanted to hear what we believed. Now, as we press forward in this 21st century, we are spreading our wings a little. Not only will we have our site http://www.tpot.org/, but we also have holynation.ning.com, an interactive site, where all are welcome to join and ask questions, and share testimonies of how the Lord is dealing with you. We will be posting vides on YouTube from time to time, including sermons, songs, discussions and testimonies. All of our efforts are with the desire to help finish the work that God started at creation, and bring about the UNITY OF THE FAITH, AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. We hope to do this, as Paul said, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. By the will of God and His grace we will accomplish this goal. Please keep us in your prayers, that we will find the wisdom and understanding to put God’s word out to the world. Thank you.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Amen.