2012 EFA-F ANNIVERSARY LECTURE: LOGGIN INTO GOD’S WEBSITE

Introduction:

 This terminology is definitely slang that comes out of the use of the internet and I believe that God intends to bring something out of it.

 In this technology-driven age, the role played by the internet in making this world a global village cannot be over-emphasized. Many services are now provided on the internet such as online banking, online shopping, job seeking, downloading of books from the internet, meeting new friends through the social networking sites like Facebook, 2go, Blackberry Messenger and so on. Even the world trade has seen a big boom with the help of the internet. All the aforementioned importance is just a few of the gargantuan loads of information available on the internet. Many people use the terms internet and World Wide Web (www) interchangeably, but the two terms are not synonymous. The Internet connects millions of computers while the World Wide Web (website) is a system of interlinked hypertext documents contained on the Internet. And it is with a web browser that one can view texts, images, videos and other multimedia available on the World Wide Web. It is therefore required of anyone who intends to access the internet to create a connection between his/her computer and the internet. In other words, logging-in (is to create or establish communication).

 Since I have been able to create awareness of what the website is all about, it is based on this premise that this lecture will be examining ‘logging into God’s website.’ God’s website is a metaphoric expression of God’s creation and His inexhaustible providence. To start with, the Holy Bible establishes in Psalms 24:1 that: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof…” It means God owns the whole universe and everything contained in it. He created the sun to give light and energy to the herbs for photosynthesis. He makes rain for the land to give yields of food, and feeds the birds of the air, fishes in the deep blue seas and animals in the wild. He created human beings and supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus as enshrined in Philippians 4:19. Thank God He did not say according to the wealth of your parents or of our country. What would have become of us? God’s providence to mankind cannot be numbered nor quantified. All the information said to be available on our internet today is just a modicum of what God has for us. The infinity of information such as joy, happiness, promotion, victory, productivity, fruitfulness inter alia available on God’s website cannot be compared to the man-made website. Also, the device with which you are browsing determines the quantum of what you see and can download. You may access the internet with your mobile phone or computer.

   However, some people have browsed God’s website before and we have heard about them. For example, Daniel and the three Hebrew children – Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel, logged into God’s website by not defiling themselves with the corrupt food provided to them by Kind Nebuchadnezzar. They browsed and downloaded excellence, longevity of life, and favour, and did exploit. This can be seen in Daniel 1:19-20. Verse 20 established that “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king found them (Daniel and the three Hebrews) ten times better that all the magicians and astrologers (the wise men) in his realm”.

   Another example is Solomon who browsed into God’s website with love and fear of God, and God gave him wisdom and wealth. He wrote three thousand proverbs and still remained the richest and wisest king that has ever lived. Neither Warren Buffet nor the Queen of England of today can stand at shoulder with King Solomon. Looking at Joseph as another example, he browsed with diligent fear of God and perseverance and downloaded greatness. He went from prison to Palace.

   You may ask how to log into this God’s website. Well, the answer is not far-fetched at all. God’s website is not www.anything.com but LIFE IN ITSELF, the whole existence and the universe. And the computer with which you log in is YOUR BODY AND BEING. On getting that, you need a web browser, unlike the usual Mozilla Firefox, Explorer, nor Opera Mini etc. JESUS is the only browser that can make you browse God’s website successfully. Jesus establishes this in John 14:6; “I am the way, the truth and life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and confess Him as the Saviour, commit all your ways before Him, fear Him in all you do either as a student, parent or teacher. Only then you are prepared to sail successfully on the sea of God’s treasure.

   In addition, you need a password; and the password is hard work and holiness as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 …love, joy, peace, long-suffering (endurance), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness (humility), temperance…” against all these are like the computer virus or Trojans that may crash down your body. For example, King Pharaoh browsed life with pride and called himself god but downloaded destruction in the Red Sea. Similarly, King Belshazzar browsed pride while he was praising the gods of silver, gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone which do not glorify the God who owns his breath. He also downloaded instantaneous death (Daniel 5:1-4, vs. 30). Other examples of these viruses includes: laziness, pride, selfishness, hatred, examination malpractice, prayerlessness among others. You also need a strong antivirus not like the Kapersky, nor Norton. It is diligence in all your ways and being prayerful. Having this antivirus, no malware or Trojan horse of life can break through the firewall of God’s glorious plan for your life to destroy your glorious future.

   Howbeit, browsing God’s website might come with some challenges that may take time but I assure you that success and victory is guaranteed if you hold on tenaciously to the Lord. For instance, Joseph went to prison but ended up in the Palace as a governor in Egypt; also Daniel wa thrown into the lion’s den, came out unharmed and also became a governor in a strange land. The three Hebrews were thrown into the fiery furnace unharmed. God catapulted them up for their steadfastness.

   Conclusively, to log into God’s website, your computer which is your body must have installed in it the web browser; Jesus! Your password being hard work and holiness and a very strong antivirus, diligence and prayerfulness. Having all these will make you browse the website of life, overcome all challenges of life and get you to the zenith of your future. Remember, you cannot do it alone, Jesus is calling you saying: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. Shun all acts of 419, cutting corners, lying, stealing, fornication and all such vices then you log in into God’s website and you come out with unprecedented and unquantifiable blessings that will catapult you to the limelight.

     God bless you all for listening.

Mrs. A.B. Dasylva (Ph.D).