Like the title says, I like to keep my posts up to date as well, so here’s an update to keep something from May 30, 2011, well – up to date.

If you’re a regular readers of this site – you were probably expecting something to be posted this past Saturday. That didn’t happen.  That was the case before I retired.  The last 3+ years, I get to write a lot more often than just weekends.  BTW – as I do the updates, I’ll put them in text like this so you can tell what’s new.

I got a phone call Friday – someone’s notebook had a problem. Apparently a massive hard drive failure and also memory problems. I’m assuming this means either it was dropped or maybe a power spike caused problems. The person said it wasn’t dropped – but she was at a coffee shop. OK – power problems are the number one suspect.

So – I take the drive out – connect it to my own notebook through a USB external drive connector – and there’s nothing wrong! It passed all the tests! This is very weird.

Next step – obviously there’s something wrong, so I try to salvage whatever I can off this “bad” drive by copying it to my system.

Then I see the problem.
It’s been infected with a virus that makes all the files read only and hidden.

Hit with a virus.
How can this be?
I know this system has anti-virus on it – because I installed it myself.
I’m sure it also has all the updates – because I set it up myself.

And yet – it happened.
What I didn’t do is go back and verify that it was actually working.
And the owner of the notebook just assumed that everything was working and didn’t see any reason to check – because I set it up for her and she just figured everything would be OK.

What’s that got to do with this site?
Well – since you’re all reading this via the web – it’s at least a reminder for you to check your machines – even if you’re sure they are up to date.  Especially since viruses like this today tend come with a ransom demand.  This one, from six years ago was recoverable without too much trouble.  But now?  Don’t count on it.

But – it’s also a reminder to check you’re spiritual life – see where you are on your walk with Jesus.

Even if we are sure that everything’s OK – it’s important to do a reality check from time to time – just to be sure.
Earlier this month, in I know my rights (which has also been updated) I wrote about this passage from 2 Kings 22:1-13 –

The Book of the Law Found

2Ki 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

2Ki 22:3 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5 Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD— 6 the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. 7 But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully.”

2Ki 22:8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

2Ki 22:11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’S anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

Even the title of this section gives some idea of how far things have gotten away from following the Law of the Lord.
The Book of the Law found!
That means it was lost!

We both thought this notebook was up to date – “following the law” so to speak.
It wasn’t.
But – no one checked – so no one knew.

And it can be that way with our lives too.
If we don’t check – we can get way off the path that God has for us to follow – and not even realize it.

Not only do we need to check, we need to be sure that we do a realistic check.  The last thing we need is to be doing something like “check from memory” – and then find out our memory isn’t so good.  When we read –

2Ki 22:11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.

– it’s obvious that the King had no idea they were so far off course on following God’s commands.

I take that back – maybe it’s not so obvious.  These days, people tear their Clothes – or better yet buy pre-torn clothes – as a fashion statement.  It’s a statement of I’m cool – I know what’s trendy.  If I’ve got the right tags on my torn clothes, it also means I’m rich enough to afford them – or maybe it means I’m not able to afford them at all, but I’d rather starve than look like I can’t afford them.

Far from today’s meanings – here’s what the tearing of clothes meant back in Josiah’s time –

TEARING OF CLOTHES (hבְּגָדִים קְרִיעַת, begadim qeri’ath). An action used to show mourning or repentance. Reuben (Gen 37:29), the sons of Jacob (Gen 44:13), and a messenger to Eli (1 Sam 4:12) all tore their clothes to express deep sorrow as a result of death or calamity. David tore his garments in response to a report that Absalom had murdered his brothers (2 Sam 13:31). The act also symbolized indignation (Num 14:6). The high priest tore his clothes when Jesus spoke what he thought was blasphemy (Matt 26:65).  ¹⁾Major Contributors and Editors. (2016). Tearing of Clothes. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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tearing of clothes

Primarily associated with mourning, such action was an expression of deep sorrow and heartfelt grief. It was also a natural reaction at times of great distress and in cases of sincere repentance.  ²⁾Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

Not only has the meaning totally changed today, but there’s not even a concept of doing anything publicly to show repentance.  Maybe the closest thing is Catholics who keep the ashes on their forehead all day on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent.  But then, those ashes wash right off.  Nothing is destroyed – sacrificed, in a way – with the ashes, as was the case with clothing being torn.  When the king heard what happened, he immediately tore his clothes – whatever he had on at the moment.  It’s not like he knew they were going to find the Book Of The Law, and he’d need to tear some clothes, and so he had on his grubby old stuff.  He was just going about his regular duties as king – didn’t take the time to change into something old – he just tore what he had.  How often does that happen today, that someone finds out they’ve offended God and then they tear their expensive designer clothes?  

I lead a class on Sunday mornings, and this past week we were talking about faith – and the journey we take once that first spark of interest comes along. Talking about the fact that there will be ups and downs – that it’s important to have a support community – people to walk with on that journey. Part of it included the “hype” cycle from the Revelation & Hype Cycles series ,which I am still moving to this site from an older one.

The highs and lows along the way – we pretty much expect them.

Sometimes the more “dangerous” part is when we’ve reached the part of the hype cycle chart called the “plateau of productivity” – when our computer is set up and has been running well for a long time – the time of our life when we think our faith is strong and start to take it for granted and ignore it.

It’s important to have a support community then too.

In Luke 12:1-12, Jesus gives warnings and encouragements –

Warnings and Encouragements

Lk 12:1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

Lk 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies ? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Lk 12:8 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Lk 12:11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

So yes – check your computers. We need help doing this – if nothing else in the form of software – and for many in the form of a person to help with that software.

More importantly – we need to check our souls. We need help doing this too – read the Bible, go to church. But for even the most experienced people – we all need help – small groups – community – a support group.

If the computer is destroyed – another can be bought.

If the soul is destroyed – another cannot be bought.

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.

Do we really need to be concerned about all this?

Have you read all of this and still think you don’t need to be concerned?  We tend to think we’ve got things under control, until something goes wrong.  The real question though is whether or not we truly have things under control.  Is there any one of us that can say Paul was wrong when he wrote this from Romans? 

No One Is Righteous

Ro 3:9 What shall we 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;

Ro 3:11 there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.

Ro 3:12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”

Ro 3:13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

Ro 3:14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

Ro 3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Ro 3:16 ruin and misery mark their ways,

Ro 3:17 and the way of peace they do not know.”

Ro 3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Ro 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

It would be the height of arrogance to think that we are the one exception to what Paul so bluntly stated.

Unless, of course, the height of arrogance is to assume that we wouldn’t go through something like this –

Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

That’s why it’s important to be checking to be sure we’re up-to-date.  Not because the law changed – not because God changed – but because we change – and because while Satan can’t create anything on his own, he can and will try different methods of corrupting us.

And that, in turn, is why I like to update previous writings.  I’m no different.  More stuff happens.  I learn more – grow because of those things (hopefully) – and then have a need to update what I’ve previously written, as appropriate.

Lk 22:31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Remember that?  While it might seem somewhat humble to think we’re not as great as Peter, so Satan would leave us alone – but don’t count on it.

Don’t be caught by surprise.
In a group – a community – we can both be help to others – and get help from others.

How is your computer?
How is your soul?