Are We There Yet?

Many say we’re better today than we were two hundred years ago.

They’ll go on to cite examples: we have amazing technology, we’ve discovered AI, we know so much more about medicine and science, etc. Their argument is that technology has “made humans better”.

Sadly, they’re wrong.

Technology has made our standard of life better – that’s undoubtable. Humans, on the other hand, remain the same. We’re still the same dark, twisted creatures that we always have been. We still cheat, lie, and murder. There are still wars (have you read the news recently?), uprisings, and countless shootings. Earth is home to more slaves nowadays than at any other time in history.

Technology has brought a lot of great things into this world, I’m not denying it. Without it you wouldn’t even be able to read this post. Technology has connected us with the world (and for writers, our audiences) like never before.

Yet people are more alone than ever.

Why do we feel so isolated?

We’re in a time where we can call, text, email, or FaceTime anyone we want, whenever we want. Despite all this, we feel more alone than at any previous time in history. Depression, anxiety, and isolation are skyrocketing.

People scour the internet, looking for answers. They try whatever new app or form of social media comes up, hoping it’ll fill the void inside them.

But it won’t help.

You’ve probably heard someone tell you how “they were in a crowded room, yet they had never felt more alone”. That’s the way life is. We’re surrounded on all sides by people, places, things, and technology, all vying for our attention. All offering a place to belong.

None of them will fill the void though. Nothing is capable of filling that little hole in the center of our hearts.

Except Jesus.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) tells us: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

When looking for answers, so often we turn to outside sources. Instead, we should be turning to the one place we know to be infallible. The Bible. The very word of God. It’s the only Book that has the answers we’re looking for.

As Christians, studying God’s word should be second nature.

We know the Bible is where we ought to turn when things get difficult. If it’s not, I pray God will help remind you of the truth His book of instruction offers.

However, many don’t know Jesus or the hope He extends to us.

In his new album, Are We There Yet? singer-songwriter Rick Astley has a song titled Never Gonna Stop. His message behind the song is that, with all this technology pushing and pulling us around, we should be working to harness it for good. His hope is that we can find it within us to use what we’ve been given for the better.

New inventions and technology have made life easier, but we’re the same people we always have been. Technology has merely shielded us from seeing that, and given us a false impression that we’re “better” nowadays.

Meanwhile, people carry on doing the same wicked things they’ve been doing since the start of time.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We can make a difference. In place of being selfish, we can use the technology we’ve been given for good. Instead of spending five hours playing meaningless games on our phone, we can send a message to that friend who we know is going through a tough season.

As Christians, we have the opportunity to make the world a better place. Not by our own strength though, not at all. That’s humanism. We can make a difference by letting God work through us to make a difference for those around us.

So are we there yet?

Are people better than they were hundreds of years ago?

From a moral standpoint, the answer is no. We will never be “there” until Jesus comes back. But in the meantime, we can make a difference. We can work towards fulfilling the Great Commission. We can be a light for those trapped in the dark.

The devil uses cell phones, AI, and the works to distract us from God. And it’s been working – studies have proven it. Except there’s a catch. We can do something the devil cannot do.

We can use his own weapons against him – for good. We can make a difference in the lives of those around us, shining God’s love to the world.

Let’s use what we’ve been given for His glory.