I am not a very technical guy. Well, I was back in the 1970’s when I could write remedial programming in statistics class at the UICC (University of Illinois at Chicago Circle). The only thing I was good at with computers was solving math problems in multiple regression analysis. That’s just a fancy name for working with predictable outcomes based on mathematical formulas and a set of variables – computers can do the computations much faster than humans. But that was it… after that my glory days were over where technology is concerned and, at the time, I actually prided myself on the fact that I made it through the 1980’s without much technology.
Those days are over. I bristle at AI and enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life such as reading an actual book rather than looking at a screen. Of course, I have added software to assist with bookkeeping and invoicing, etc. It’s a fact of life that to be in business, or in ministry, technology is pretty important these days. In fact, these posts are distributed each week through modern technology.
But there are other people on our team who deal with the technology issues of making sure my writings get sent to FB, or LinkedIn or to your inbox. So I was very surprised when I started getting messages from Google that the requirements for usage were changing and that I had to start using 2FA or we would lose the ability to use email, logins, etc. What’s 2FA? Well, it took me a while to figure it out… two-factor authentication. Now, logging in to Google (think gmail) isn’t as easy as it used to be. A second confirming method of identification is required to continue, at least with our master account.
I know this occurs with doctor portals, etc. and it is clear to me that with all the fraud, identity theft and stolen credit card info, companies want to make sure that they are dealing with an authentic account holder and not some scam artist. I used to think I was immune to any kind of fraud, but people I know well have been scammed for tens of thousands of dollars (in one case, $44,000) so you can’t be too careful these days. I have learned to never buy anything by clicking on a link in FaceBook or not going directly to an unknown website. Life continues to get more difficult.
So, thanks to our technical wizards, most of the changes required were done behind the scenes and now it was up to me to login and add phone numbers, etc. as a secondary method to receive a text and verify that I am who I say that I am. I almost get panicked when that happens. I like things simple – and most technology is not simple for me. Anyway, it looks like, with the help of Connor, our oldest grandson, we were able to figure things out and get everything accomplished. I am kind of mentally exhausted.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be part of an environment where there were no two-factor identifications and you could trust others? Wouldn’t it be great to be part of something where you are known and don’t have to prove your identity? Well, believers already have that satisfaction. Jesus already knows us. There is no need to send a text, or an email, or in any other way prove who you are. God will never forget us – after all, He created us and knows every hair on our heads. How comforting is that!
Tonight’s verse is one that we don’t hear about very often. The apostle John recounted the words of Jesus in many parts of the Gospel bearing his name. John once again gives us the words of Jesus on the topic of belonging to Him. John tells us, in John 10:27-30, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
My encouragement this evening is that nobody can snatch us out of the hand of our Savior – NOBODY! And once you accept the free gift of eternal life, you are good to go for all eternity! In other words, once you login with God, you stay logged in forever. You don’t need a phone number or secret code. You’re already good to go! My prayer is that we will take a moment this Advent season and thank God for sending His Son to earth to bear the sins of the world and to give us a model of behavior that He wants us to follow. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…