Mark of the Beast.

Professor John Lennox, a scholar of science and Christianity, says the mark of the beast is already here and we willingly worship it. We surrender to the algorithms, which tell us what to think, what to buy, what holidays we’d like to take and on and on.

Lennox goes on to say there’s a 66% higher rate of depression between people who spend five hours watching screens than those spending four hours. We’re always on the phone. Never alone with our thoughts. There is no interior silence. The bible says; “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10), however, we’re never still. We can never really get to know God if we never stop, be still and get into His presence.

Orientation to the One who made us can only come through the practice of solitude, prayer and deep reading. It’s face to face with community living that brings satisfaction, not in the transient membership of the latest online game.

Who do you serve? Do you wake and turn to your bible or your phone? Do you, at lights out, scroll until sleep overtakes, or rehearse memorized scriptures?

“But His delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditated day and night, then he shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:2f.) It pays to meditate on God’s word.

Do you have the mark of God or the mark of the beast? Where is the work of your hands taking you? How do you think? For it is written the mark is on the hands and the forehead. That is in what we do and what we think. God knows which people His mark rests upon.

There are studies done now which bring to light the problem with screen time. “20 years ago,” said Lennox, “our focus was at 12 seconds. Focus has now reduced to 8 seconds. A goldfish has a nine second focus.” So effectively, we as a human society, have less focus today than a goldfish.

Troublesome, if you ask me, especially when you consider where we’ll be in another 20 years. How bad can it get? We shall soon find out.

Using phones every moment is misplaced worship. As the algorithm’s read us, who or what are we waking up to? Who or what, are we going to bed with? For those algorithms are geared to snatching away your attention. Removing attention from the quiet and peaceful place of God to the ever-increasing desire for more; more stuff, more knowledge, more stimulation. 

To you, I say; “Don’t be fooled.” Get into the secret place and spend time with the One who will improve your life, not the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy.