Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Chip Off the Old Book?



According to this site, the implantable ID chips may cause cancer. This site goes even further to suggest that the makers of these ID chips may have known about these risks all along. Of course, as bad as cancer is, it's no comparison to the eternal damnation that will result from accepting the mark of the beast. I don't believe such current ID chips constitute the infamous "666" mark, but it sure could be paving the way.
Would it be a surprise to believers that the marketers of such technology could act unethically? Would it be a surprise to believers that - IF this IS a precursor to the mark - (and I realize that is a HUGE "if"), God might show a physical indication of danger to foreshadow the spiritual danger?
I heard a sermon today that explained how leprosy (in the old testament) was the physical symbol of sin, mirroring the underlying spiritual sin. The example given was about Naaman, the Syrian King who was told by the prophet to bathe 7 times in a the yucky Jordan to be healed of his leprosy. This required humility for Naaman, who was used to more pristine aqua treatments.
God uses numerous metaphors to illustrate spiritual issues with fleshy examples. Doctors also tell us that pain is our body's way of communicating a danger signal to our brain. The complications of leprosy, in fact, result from the victim being unable to feel pain that would otherwise make the body take preventive action. (Removing a sliver, or blinking when there's sand in your eye).
Just as a pain killer provides comfort without fixing the underlying problem, man's methods of overcoming God's megaphone (pain) without looking at the underlying cause is temporarily comforting, but potentially deadly. Cures for hangovers, methods of reducing the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, and modern society's gradual loosening of moral standards (to liberate ourselves from those "pesky" conscience problems) are all cases of taking the painkiller without asking the doctor what's causing the pain.
Just like leprosy's progressive oblivion to pain, our attempts to ignore God's warnings may succeed, with a deadly final result. Venture down the path of any particular sin, and it won't be long until you become O.K. with a behavior that once bothered you. 100's of addicts have shared with me their stories of moral decline as their addictions progressed. The lucky ones finally see the slippery slope they've been sliding on, and look for a way off. Some just keep hardening their hearts (searing their conscience), to the point that their sin is celebrated as a great thing. Even pain, at that point, is strangely absent. Ever heard the term "feeling no pain?"
What a tragedy when pain no longer serves it's warning. Lord, I pray that you help me to "get it" when you're using pain to communicate.
Today, we read that ID chips may cause cancer. Soon, I strongly suspect the issue will become resolved. Indeed, I have no doubt they'll eventually be marketed as 100% safe, convenient, and just plain smart. Have you heard about the ink that can be used just like an ID microchip? Soon, these ID's - that will be mandatory if you want to buy or sell anything (good for food?) - will even look pretty! Nice to look at, good for the hungry, and just plain smart. Where have I read that before?
Genesis 3:6 states:

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.

Interesting...