The Importance
of…
Every good and
perfect gift is from
above, coming down from
the Father of the heavenly lights
(James 1:17, NIV)
Scott Huckaby
www.BibleTract.org
Today’s Discussion:
Technology is a blessing
from God
Technology is a significant
sign of the times
What brings order out of chaos?
In the beginning
God created the
heavens and the
earth. Now the
earth was formless
and empty …God
saw all that He had
made, and it was
very good.
(Genesis 1, NIV)
God showed that
creating new things
from the stuff of the
earth is inherently good.
How do we know God wants us
to be creative?
God created man in His
own image, in the image
of God He created him;
male and female He
created them.
(Genesis 1:27, NIV)
The Creator’s creative
nature never ceased…
Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and
forever (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)
God is a maker;
He made us, His
image-bearers to
also be makers.
How else do we know God
wants us to make things?
Rule over the fish of the
sea and the birds of the
air and over every living
creature that moves on
the ground.
(Genesis 1:28, NIV)
Making things is part of ruling over creation.
We know we are fulfilling our purpose
when we derive satisfaction from
exercising our creativity to make things.
How has God showed us His
interest in what we build?
This is what the Lord
says about the palace
of the king of Judah:
"Though you are like
Gilead to me, like the
summit of Lebanon,
I will surely make
you
like a desert…
(Jeremiah 22:6, NIV)
God sees our creations
as an extension of His
own creation.
God gave detailed
instructions for building
Noah’s ark, the
tabernacle and temple.
How else has God showed us
His interest in what we build?
I have chosen
Bezalel …and I
have filled him
with the Spirit of
God, with skill,
ability and
knowledge in all
kinds of crafts
(Exodus 31:1-3, NIV)
God gives us skills to be
proficient in building things…
Having then gifts differing according
to the grace that is given to us, let us
use them (Romans 12:6, NKJV)
What makes science & faith
in Christ compatible?
“Come now, let us
reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins
are like scarlet,
they shall be as
white as snow;
though they are red
as crimson, they
shall be like wool.”
(Isaiah 1:18, NIV)
God does not call us to
blind faith… He gave us a
capacity to use logic for
discerning the truth.
How does learning about creation
glorify God?
Since the creation
of the world God's
invisible qualities—
his eternal power and
divine nature—have
been clearly seen,
being understood
from what has been
made
(Romans 1:20, NIV)
It helps us know Him
better; thus making
scientific discoveries
is what we should do.
How is it that science became a self- sustaining
enterprise only in the Christian West?
A study of nature helps us learn about God.
to search out a matter
is the glory of kings
(Proverbs 25:2, NIV)
How did we come to study nature?
What does it mean to have universal laws?
How is it that science became a self- sustaining
enterprise only in the Christian West?
A study of nature helps us learn about God.
A world with universal laws facilitates learning.
All the universe is part
of God’s creation thus,
for example, the motion
of the moon can be
explained by a study of
gravitation on earth.
What does it mean to share in God’s rationality?
How is it that science became a self- sustaining
enterprise only in the Christian West?
A study of nature helps us learn about God.
A world with universal laws facilitates learning.
Being in the image of God gives people
the capacity to share in His rationality.
Thus the more we use our thinking
skills to know Him better, the more
like Him we will be.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
(Matthew 22:37-38, NIV)
How is it that science became a self- sustaining
enterprise only in the Christian West?
A study of nature helps us learn about God.
A world with universal laws facilitates learning.
Being in the image of God gives people
the capacity to share in His rationality.
A clear delineation between the Creator and the
created gave rise to the experimental method.
Since we can not dictate to
nature what it ought to be,
we can learn about what it is
through repeatable processes.
How is it that science became a self- sustaining
enterprise only in the Christian West?
A study of nature helps us learn about God.
A world with universal laws facilitates learning.
Being in the image of God gives people
the capacity to share in His rationality.
A clear delineation between the Creator and the
created gave rise to the experimental method.
Knowing the beginning and end to the world
motivates efforts to improve things.
… whereas an infinite universe with
endless historical cycles results in
hopelessness or complacency.
How can technology be a problem?
“Come, let's make bricks
and bake them thoroughly.”
They used brick instead of
stone, and tar for mortar.
Then they said, “Come, let
us build ourselves a city,
with a tower that reaches to
the heavens, so that we may
make a name for ourselves
and not be scattered over
the face of the whole earth.”
(Genesis 11:3-4, NIV)
Using it to diminish
God’s glory or to
resist His will
What made the timing right for
Jesus to come?
When the fullness
of the time had
come, God sent
forth His Son
(Galatians 4:4, NKJV)
1. The Greek language was established
as the language of commerce
2. Roman roads had been build to
facilitate command and control
Why else is technology important?
When it is evening you say, 'It
will be fair weather, for the sky
is red'; and in the morning, 'It
will be foul weather today, for
the sky is red and threatening.'
Hypocrites! You know how to
discern the face of the sky, but
you cannot discern the signs of
the times. (Matthew 16:2-3, NKJV)
Technology is a sign of the times…
As we see technologies that God may use
to fulfill prophecies, we know that the return
of Christ is near.
How is technology a
sign of the times?
I heard, but I did not
understand. So I asked,
"My lord, what will the
outcome of all this be?"
He replied, "Go your way,
Daniel, because the words
are closed up and sealed
until the time of the end.
(Daniel 12:8-9, NIV)
Many prophecies previously assumed to be
fulfilled by supernatural means may now be
fulfilled naturally.
What is one of the things people will
worship prior to Christ’s return?
He shall regard neither the God of his fathers
nor the desire of women, nor regard any god;
for he shall exalt himself above them all. "But
in their place he shall honor a god of
fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not
know he shall honor with gold and silver, with
precious stones and pleasant things.
(Dan 11:37-38, NKJ)
God of fortresses = technology
What sign is represented here?
Seal the book
until the time
of the end;
many shall run
to and fro, and
knowledge
shall increase
(Daniel 12:4, NKJV)
In the end-times, there will be a lot of people
traveling and there will be an expansion of
knowledge (in general & about Bible prophecy).
What sign is represented here?
For three and a half
days men from every
people, tribe, language
and nation will gaze
on their bodies and
refuse them burial.
(Revelation 11:9, NIV)
Television and satellite communications;
God generally uses natural means to fulfill
prophecies so that only the spiritually
discerning will recognize the miracle…
For we walk by faith, not by sight
(2 Cor 5:7, NKJV)
What sign is represented here?
I saw another angel
flying in the midst of
heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to
preach to those who
dwell on the earth–
to every nation, tribe,
tongue, and people–
saying with a loud voice,
“Fear God and give
glory to Him, for the
hour of His judgment
has come…”
(Revelation 14:6-7, NKJV)
“Angel” literally
means “messenger”
Could this be a
communications
satellite?
What sign is represented here?
He also forced
everyone, small
and great, rich and
poor, free and
slave, to receive a
mark on his right
hand or on his
forehead, so that
no one could buy
or sell unless he
had the mark…
Computer technology
facilitating financial
transactions; RFID chips
(Rev 13:16-17, NIV) under the skin in use today
What sign is represented here?
The chariots come
with flaming torches
in the day of his
preparation, and the
spears are brandished.
The chariots rage in
the streets, they jostle
one another in the
broad roads; they
seem like torches, they
run like lightning.
(Nahum 2:3-4 , NKJV)
Cars at night…
Cars have brought
more carnage
than chariots
What sign is represented here?
“Though you soar like
the eagle and make
your nest among the
stars, from there I
will bring you down,”
declares the LORD.
(Obadiah 4, NIV)
Only since the space program have we been
able to comprehend biblical prophecies
relating to mankind’s efforts in the heavens.
The time-frame is in verse 15:
For the day of the Lord is near...
What sign is represented here?
If those days had
not been cut short,
no one would
survive, but for the
sake of the elect
those days will be
shortened.
(Matthew 24:22, NIV)
Only since the 1946 has it been possible to
comprehend weapons that could annihilate
all life on earth.
How may this be literally fulfilled?
Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel,
for I myself will help you," declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. "See, I
will make you into a threshing sledge, new and
sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the
mountains and crush them, and reduce the
hills to chaff. You will winnow them, the wind
will pick them up, and a gale will blow them
away. (Isaiah 41:14-16, NIV)
Israel has nuclear weapons and it is just a
matter of time until they’re used, particularly
in light of what is going on in Iran.