Things started out all right. I was working on an important
task when, all of a sudden, a strange and surprising noise began to sound and a
most unfamiliar message appeared on my computer screen! Then an “authoritative”
voice warned me NOT to turn off my computer. I was then directed to follow the
prompts on the screen, reassuring me how to “gain” proper access to and
restored usage of my computer. “Obeying” the “prompts,” I was eventually
requested by that unconfirmed but “authoritative” voice to allow access to my
computer to rectify the problem!
Unwittingly, and ignorantly, I granted that “authoritative”
and “reassuring” voice my permission to take control of my computer! Little did I realize that my computer had
been “hacked.” All of my files, records, programs, applications, and
pictures were then in the control of and at the disposal of the person(s)
behind that “authoritative” voice. And the greatest detriment to that situation
was that I no longer had access to, nor control of, my own computer.
And to add coal oil to the fire, their solution was for me
to purchase some very expensive programs. When I questioned their actions and
requested that they restore my access to my computer, l was strongly chastised
and held accountable for allowing the “problem” to occur.
Fortunately, I had previously saved the information on my
computer to a flash drive. However, there was additional important information
that I had saved since that “download” process. None of that information was
accessible. The “authoritative powers” had total control of my computer. After
considering having that computer “serviced” to restore my access to that
computer, I was informed that I could have the “hard drive” – the “soul” of the
computer – “serviced,” which would allow me to continue using my old computer. But,
whoever had “hacked” into my old computer still had access to it! They would
still be in control.
In the midst of this frustrating, upsetting and anger-enticing
experience, I was reminded how spiritually enlightening that experience was. My
computer had been hacked, and I was experiencing some of the detrimental
consequential results that followed. Then I was led to reflect on the fact that
the “computer hacking” experience was really reflective of the spiritual lives
of every soul.
Ironically, I had previously secured a new computer. I was
able to transfer the information that I had previously saved on a flash drive
to my new computer. And since that new computer had a different “uncontaminated
hard-drive” – a different “soul” – everything from the “past” was operating
under a new system. The old me had been “saved!” “Old corruptive things have passed away” and
“all things have become ‘new!’”
Consider yourself as one of God’s computers! God created you
for himself. He installed special “programs” inside of you for you to use for
purposes pleasing to him, and to benefit you. God has installed a new
“operating system” which allows you to function under his control. He has
instilled within you a direct communication capacity with him, which allows you
to seek and secure his resolution to any problem which you might encounter.
Yet, you are able to utilize those various programs that God has installed
within you as you choose.
Sometimes we may install other “programs and systems” within
ourselves that may conflict with programs that God has installed within us. That
is what I did when I “obeyed” that “authoritative voice” and invited that
controlling source to take control of my computer. That is what Adam and Eve
did when Satan tempted them to let their desires to “be and do” become more
than what they thought they were and caused them to become less than what God
had created them to be and to become. They yielded their self-control to the
“authoritative voice and will” of Satan.
Although I had “possession” of my old computer, I no longer
had access nor control of all that it was capable of doing. Likewise, when I, you
and we choose to give Satan access to our minds, bodies and spirits, even our lives,
we limit our use of the many resources and capabilities that God has placed
within the “hard drives” of our souls. We have yielded our use of our own bodies,
minds even spirits to the will and wiles of Satan.
Even that which we may seek to do in obedience to, and in
harmony with, the word of God is still subject to the deceptive and
self-debilitating power and impact of the “authoritative voice and will” of
Satan. Our souls have been hacked.
Fortunately, we do not have to “discard” our souls, nor
allow them to be picked apart for the “useable” purposes of Satan. God has
included in his eternal human service agreement a spiritual warranty which
enables us to be forgiven (hard drive cleansed) of our knowingly and
unwittingly allowing, even inviting, the spiritual “hackers” of Satan to gain
access to our lives and control over our life situations.
In those moments of life when we discover that we have been
spiritually “hacked,” we have the following spiritual guarantees for
discovering and rectifying spiritual hacking:
• Matthew 9:28 – Believe that the Lord can fix your soul’s problems.
• Matthew 16:23 – Admit that you yielded to the directives
of Satan and disobeyed the word of God for your life.
• 1 John 1:9 – Confess that you chose to seek unauthorized solutions
to the problems in your life.
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 – Repent – Turn away from those things
that are not of God’s word and turn to God’s solutions for your life.
• John 16:13 – Surrender your life’s operations to the guidance
of the Holy Spirit.
These are the times when we really need to take our souls to
the service department of the Holy Spirit. He is authorized, certified and able
to remove our spiritual “hard drives,” which contain every detailed fact and
operative formula that has been instilled and embedded within us from the time
of our entrance into this world!
By the way, it doesn’t cost anything to get spiritually hacked,
nor does it cost anything to get spiritually restored. Satan may send you a soul
destructive invoice, but God already offers, guarantees and provides
“Redemptive Service” without cost! Your spiritually redemptive service fee (debt)
was paid on Calvary.
Fortunately, that useful information which was on my old computer
has been saved. That which is beneficial for my life can still be retrieved and
used. I am no longer dependent upon the “past,” nor the things of the past.
That old computer? Keeping it reminds me of my past erroneous
life decisions. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of why, in moments of life’s
many conflicts, not to allow other outside elements, individuals and entities
to take control of my life. The consequences are too drastic.
Freed from using that old useless “computer,” my new reprogrammed
and redeemed soul operates according to those “un-hackable” creator-approved principles,
under the guidance of his Holy Spirit.
Pastor Samuel W. Hale Jr. is the former pastor of Zion
Missionary Baptist Church and president of J.L. Powell Mission Ministries.
This article appears in Best films and scenes of 2024.
