“WHAT DO YOU FAVOR MORE, S.T.E.M. OR HIM?”

By Temeka Atkinson

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)

“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God”. (Psalms 20:7)

Hello fellow servants of Christ. I want to share some observations regarding a shift in societal views on S.T.E.M. and human accomplishments versus how we view and perceive God.

An innate part of being human is our curiosity and desire to understand and make sense of the physical world around us. God has given humanity attributes such as intelligence, ingenuity, imagination, curiosity, kindness, sympathy and empathy. With those qualities humans have made scientific and technological advances that have saved lives, healed people, given people better qualify of life, and other inventions that have enriched our lives.

When I think of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (S.T.E.M.), there are many accomplishments and marvels that come to mind such as: cures to diseases and illnesses; space exploration; and feats of engineering of such iconic marvels like the Eiffel Tower, the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Egyptian pyramids, and the Burj Khalifa which clocks in at an astounding 2,722 feet tall.

Some of the inventions being made, sold, and released today remind me of the old cartoon series, The Jetsons, which I watched on television in syndication as a child. The futuristic society and technologies portrayed in that cartoon and many television series such as Lost in Space, and even one of my favorites, Knight Rider, don’t feel as far-fetched as they once did.

Technology is moving at the most rapid pace ever seen in the history of humanity. We are in a current age in our society where human innovation, intelligence and spectacular technological advancements are being put up on grand pedestals like never seen before in my lifetime. Not only are the innovations being esteemed highly, but the inventors themselves are being looked upon with not only admiration, but by something more akin to deification.

We, as Christian believers are children of ‘El Elyon’, translated as the Most High God. Of all people, we as God’s kids, should keep in the forefront of our minds and hearts that there is nothing and no one greater than God. When God first spoke to Moses by the burning bush in the Book of Exodus, Moses asked God, “who shall I say to the children of Israel has sent me to free them from captivity in Egypt?” God answered, “I AM WHO I AM.” Our God has always been and will always be. That is why throughout the Bible, He is described with adjectives such as the Everlasting God; the Eternal God; the Great I AM; the Beginning and the End; the First and the Last.

Jesus was in the beginning with God and was also God. It is important to remember that the Bible explains “that all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” That means that there is no inventor, innovator, scientist, mathematician, physician, scholar, genius, Mensa member, prodigy, millionaire, billionaire, actor, singer, religious leader, king, queen, president, sultan, political movement, ruler, etc. that can ever be comparable to the God we serve. We are commanded by God to have no other gods and to love God with all of our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.

I love the scriptures in the Book of Job in Chapters 38-41 when God gave what could be considered in modern terms a ‘mic drop’ moment to His servant Job. God shared a fraction of His eternal resume to remind Job who He is. God asks Job questions such as, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Or who shut in the sea with doors and said to it this far you can come but no more?” Job who was a faithful servant of God received a greater perspective, understanding, and appreciation for God’s deity, majesty, power, faithfulness, patience and love. This is a valuable lesson for us as God’s modern day servants in the earth, to always remember who the God of our salvation is.

We must be careful to guard our hearts and minds to make sure that we don’t fall into what the Bible describes as idol worship or idolatry. An idol does not have to be a gold or bronze statue or anything physical at all. The Bible explains that anything that replaces God as the object of one’s worship, trust, focus, and reliance is an idol. Currently for many, it can be something as seemingly innocuous as a social media app or our favorite show on a streaming platform. We must be careful to not sacrifice ourselves on the altars of technological advancements, innovation, and human intelligence.

Due to the topic of the blog, I feel it is fitting to share one of my favorite quotes which comes from the late Christian pastor and author, A.W. Tozer. He wrote, “The believing man does not claim to understand. He falls to his knees and whispers, “God.” The man of earth kneels also, but not to worship. He kneels to examine, to search, to find the cause and how of things.”

Real talk, the world is not going to pass us by if we aren’t utilizing the most current or popular technology. As long as we are rooted and grounded in Christ, the Holy Spirit will guide us regarding what technologies we should or should not be using and for what purposes we should use them. Brothers and Sisters, we should definitely not be afraid of new technologies because God has not given us a spirit of fear. However, we should always use discernment and seek God’s face about all things that pertain to our lives and society. We are to be among them (the world), but not of them–meaning residing in society, but with the consciousness of God guiding our decisions and actions in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Now that the ‘future is here’ in a sense, let us lift up our God, our Lord and Savior Jesus in the earth above all things. Let us continue to glorify Him during the highs and the lows. Keep in mind that the most awe inspiring thing that has ever been done in the earth already happened over two thousand years ago. One night, in a little town called Bethlehem, the God of all creation stepped out of eternity, to be born in human flesh to a virgin named Mary. He had to spend his first night on earth lying in a feeding trough meant for animals. He did it for you, and me, and all of humanity. Let’s let that sink in when we deliberate on what to celebrate and elevate as ‘greatness’ in the earth.

Glory to God in the Highest!

Scriptural References for Reflection

Genesis 11:1-9

Luke 2:1-20

I Corinthian 1:26-31

2 Timothy 1:7

I John 5:21

Dear Reader—

I pray this blog has been encouraging. Please know that the intention of this blog is to encourage you as we walk out our Christian faith together. It is not intended to replace God’s Holy Word, neither could it ever do so. The Bible is the inspired Word of God lovingly given to us to teach, convict, correct, and instruct us in righteousness. God’s Word is living, active, and powerful. It will never pass away.

As your sister in Christ, I pray God’s continued blessings and covering over you and your family. May He strengthen you and give you peace as you journey.

Always His,

Temeka