Data Storage
In these days when knowledge is increasing at the speed of light (Daniel 12:4), it is no surprise what has been revealed to us in this past weeks news headlines.
The following YouTube News Brief is perhaps what we have expected all along, ever since the revelations of Edward Snowden. That is, factions of the United States Intelligence agencies have been downloading and storing all data that is streaming across the fiber optic cables of the world, from iphones, androids, Windows, and every other device that uses digital data.
Today, not only anything you say may be held against you in a court of law, but now, anything you typed, viewed, or communicated, through online digital data, may be used against you.
Some may argue, I have nothing to hide, so if they are spying on me is used to bust terrorists and drug dealers it is a good thing. There are others who are so addicted to their cell phones that they just do not care if “Big Brother” knows every intimate detail about them, just as long as they don't cut them off from Facebook or other Social Media.
However, there is a far bigger database than the NSA's (National Security Agency) trillions of gigabytes of information stored in their digital warehouses that they need to worry about. We can read about it in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12)This is a record that has been kept, not since the beginning of our digital age, that is under 40 years old, but from the beginning of the creation of the world, right from Adam and Eve. Everything is recorded there. Listen to what Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)
Not only the words that we speak, but even our thoughts are taken into account. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)
Maybe you think, oh no, I may be in trouble with the CIA, the FBI, the IRS, the NSA, etc... but we have a far bigger problem than that. We will be coming under the scrutiny of the G O D of the universe. You may think that you hate the injustices of this present evil world, well let me tell you, even those things that you may take lightly and count as harmless, He hates with a vengeance.
Listen to what He says, and read it very carefully,
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)Neither does it help to say, you have not broken most of these, or, I do not do that anymore, for it is written, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10)“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
Oh dear, it looks like “the jig is up”, our secrets have been revealed, and we are guilty as sin.
In your life, you may think that whatever you have “deleted” is gone. Not so. The NSA has a record of all your digital data. Could not they delete it? They sure could. It's as easy as a click of a button.
But now, look at what God is able to do. Considering those who have found salvation He says, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2: 13-14).
And again, whether we be Jew or Gentile, listen...
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” (Ephesians 2:8-17)Here is the bad news, we have all broken God's holy commandments. That is sin. And the payment for sin is death, that is, eternal separation from God in hell. But the Good News, which the Bible calls “the gospel”, is that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
You may think that your sins, even the little ones are not that bad. If you think that, you are being deceived. You need to repent, you need to change your mind, not only about your sins, but about God, that He is holy and we are not; about Jesus Christ, that He is God manifest in the flesh, the very Son of God, who came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He died for our sins and rose again for our justification. He loves us and is longsuffering not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Without repentance we shall all perish (Luke 13:3). But if you would believe the gospel and trust and receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you shall be saved. That is the promise of God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19)
This is what happened at Calvary, when Jesus Christ bore our sins in His own body on the cross. He died for our sins and descended down into the depths of hell. Our sins have been buried with Him, never to be brought up again. We are forgiven for Christ's sake, even from “all” our sins, for they have all been borne by Jesus Christ, and are covered, blotted out, abolished, deleted, and pardoned, not one remains, “and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:6-10)He became our substitute when He paid our penalty, and God has given us lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). He is risen from the dead, and alive forevermore, and is waiting for you to come to Him today. He has promised, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)
Delay not your decision today. Harden not your hearts. Christ died for your sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Being risen from the dead He shewed Himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen of multitudes for 40 days. He then ascended into heaven and has promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). He promised to return for His own before all Hell literally breaks loose here on planet earth (Revelation 9:1-12). This has been called the “rapture” of the church, referring to those who will be “caught up” out of this world to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). This notable event happens before that great and terrible Day of the Lord, to the joy of saints, and to the terror of the wicked.
He gave many signs that a generation would witness just prior to His coming saying, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” (Matthew 24:34). Some of these signs are mentioned in the book of the Revelation. We have talked at the beginning of this article about knowledge and technology increasing, and during the Tribulation it will be harnessed by a global government, a new world order, ruled by the man of sin, the Antichrist.
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16-17)
If you do not think that we are living in this unprecedented time in history, I ask you to watch this brief video clip, starting at 5:32, that deals where we are at with this technology today: The Mark of the Beast
"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand." (Revelation 22:10)
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)
GNC