What an incredible God we serve! Even though we cannot see Him physically, we can sense His presence with us, we can know Him and grow in His truth, and there is evidence that He is with us. We can learn to be sensitized to how the unseen realm in which God operates bursts into the tangible realm of earth, transcending time and space and reminding us daily that not only is He with us, but He is longing to integrate His infinite nature into our finite existence. 1st Timothy 1 reminds us to acknowledge this wondrous God:
17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
He is our King, who lives forever, who is in control of our future, who is "invisible". Even though we cannot see God with our physical eyes, we can know Him, we can connect with Him through prayer and abiding in His Word, and we can see Him more clearly as we seek Him.
The Bible teaches us about the nature of faith and its relationship to an unseen realm. Hebrews 11:1 states that, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
2nd Corinthians 4 can motivate us to seek to see the unseen:
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The Consumer Electronics Show is taking place in Las Vegas this week, and there are indications that attendance this year could top last year's record of 150,000 gazing upon the latest and the greatest in technology that is designed to make our lives easier or more efficient, or at least more entertaining.
PCMag.com reports that the CES floor is "positively littered with tablets, convertible laptops, phones,
fitness gadgets, cameras, HDTVs, and cars—you name it, and you'll find a ton of it here."
It reports that even as vendors show off their latest hardware, it's still clear that software leads in overall
importance. There's an increased emphasis on apps and services, and which devices are
compatible with the ones that mean the most to you. A product could have a killer design or stand-out
feature, but if it doesn't work with the apps and services you use, it's a non-starter.
Some of the big stories this year include:
Connected Cars. 9 automakers have shown up to showcase their latest tech innovations. For instance, there has been plenty of talk in the past about in-car smartphone integration, particularly from Google, but capabilities are being built directly into the cars themselves. There are updates that allow you to upgrade youre infotainment capabilities during the entire time you own the car, and as new apps and services hit the market.
Wearable Tech. Wearables were huge at CES this year. The category includes fitness gadgets,
smartwatches, sports gear, augmented reality glasses, and other hard-to-categorize items with wildly
varied feature sets and purposes.
4K Television. PCMag.com reports that the move to Ultra HD video is in full swing, with many more 4K
HDTVs at far more reasonable prices than last year's five-digit early adopter sets.
Curved Displays. Mammoth curved OLED HDTV screens grabbed a lot of attention on the show floor. And, a curved smartphone has been introduced.
The Toy Robot Revolution. Robot toys are suddenly big, now that the technology is there and prices are coming down. There are products that can let you control and play with robotic gadgets wirelessly and control them from your smartphone or tablet. Enterprising developers can even program unique apps that
work with the robots in new and exciting ways.
There is certainly a desire that developers and manufacturers are tapping into to be connected and to be clearer than ever. Your car can talk to a smartphone or it can become its own smartphone and upgrade your communication or entertainment choices. You can wear a watch and check your e-mail or talk to someone in a James Bond fashion. It occurred to me yesterday as I drove down the interstate that I was essentially driving through a tapestry of all sorts of waves and frequencies. From the tools that enable cellular communication to the over-the-air radio signals, such as the ones offered by Faith Radio, unseen methods are allowing us to be connected with one another. Remember the catchphrase, "there's an app for that"? Well, those apps are gateways to enhanced communication and information. From a spiritual standpoint, technology can help us to receive information that can facilitate our growth in Christ.
It really can open us up to a greater understanding about life in the Spirit. We serve a God whom we cannot see, but evidence of Him is everywhere. The Bible tells us that we are embedded in the physical realm in the midst of a great array of spiritual forces. Spiritual activity is all around us - and we can sense the presence of God and be aware of His influence on our lives, as well as those dark, unseen forces, as well.
Furthermore, listen to the acronyms and abbreviations: HDTV, 4K, OLEC - HDTV was supposed to bring us incredible clarity in our television experiences; now 4K can even enhance that experience. There are smart TV's that integrate computer technology and provide greater windows to the world.
At our house, we still own a standard TV - for me, it's hard to comprehend the value of these new, clearer, and more stunning displays in light of the financial investment, but someone would probably say that once I experience it, I would be hooked. Greater clarity brings a more satisfying experience. And, that can be a spiritual principle, too - if we are desiring to see things more clearly spiritually, then God will grant us the ability to know Him better and to apply His truth to our lives. We can be challenged to want to see the things of God in a more clear fashion, so that we can experience what He has in store for us.
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