The following is an introduction to my book: The Divine Gift of Intellect. I still have much to do, but wanted to share a snapshot of what it is about. The chapter titles are listed after the introduction.
Introduction
In 1842, a woman by the name of Augusta Ada King developed what is considered the first computer program. Her discoveries came long before twentieth-century electrification; and the first ‘official’ computer would not take form for over 100 years. Yet at age 27, this remarkable woman envisioned things well into the future—even beyond the technology we possess today.
This seemingly rare woman—Ada Lovelace as she is called—is not alone in her accomplishments or her foresight. Hundreds like her have discovered and contributed to the explosion of invention and information over the past 200 years. Inventors, authors, scientists, musicians, religious reformers, and a host of other "discoverers" have continued to move the world forward at an ever-increasing pace. And just to bring it up to speed, in 2014 alone the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted over 326,000 patents. That is a lot of “new” and “useful” inventions.
Some may consider this acceleration nothing more than a fortunate evolution of technological advancement, or a natural outgrowth of economic and new-frontier conditions; and this would certainly be a good start. But a true examination of the miraculous and unprecedented growth in the past few centuries reveals evidence of the divine hand of providence. For thousands of years no progress has been this rapid. The acceleration is not coincidental, and neither is your placement in it.
The God of Heaven and Earth is hastening His work in preparation for His coming. He will come just as prophesied, and it will be glorious! The signs are all around us, including the acceleration of technological advancements. Ours is the opportunity to participate in this marvelous work. Ours is the responsibility to take advantage of these great discoveries, and to join the cause of truth—to prepare the world for His return.
Like the light of the sun to seedlings under the soil, the Light of Christ is illuminating the minds of men and women to discover, invent, and perpetuate useful tools, information, and ideas for His purposes. A number of discoveries seem to have appeared simultaneously—as if the authors' plucked them from the same tree that was just coming to fruition. The discovery of oxygen, the theory of evolution of species, the telephone, the airplane, and even calculus are some well-known examples. Though some may take issue with these examples, and explain them away with this or that circumstance, none can ignore the unprecedented growth at a time of religious revival, restoration, and preparation for that which is to come.
Communicative technology—particularly social media—has a specific purpose, though few acknowledge it. And no, it is not to share cat videos or pictures of your lunch. There is a higher purpose.
One of my greatest heroes is a man by the name of William Wilberforce—the subject of the book and film entitled Amazing Grace. In the early years of his life young Wilberforce felt drawn to God, and began examining and developing his spirituality. But it did not take long for his mother and some fellow students at Cambridge to pull young Wilberforce away from his new-found faith. After some riotous but regretted years, Wilberforce came to himself and to God through a traveling companion named Isaac Milner—a mathematician, inventor, preacher, and President of Queens’ College in Cambridge.
Wilberforce’s conversion was deep and continuous, and was the motivation for his remarkable efforts. He felt an ever-present sense of accountability for his time and resources. He sold a substantial portion of his inheritance, and He championed numerous causes—everything from the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to the number of misfit servants he kindly employed. But the abolition of the slave trade was his first and great objective. Listing his accomplishments would be exhausting, and numbering the people impacted by his efforts is impossible. Truly, Wilberforce changed the world.
One would think that abolishing the British slave trade (and throughout much of Europe and the Western world) would be enough to merit a peaceful rest. And if that were not enough, then surely Wilberforce’s reformation of the entire middle- and upper-classes of British society toward a more moral civilization would be sufficient for his resume. The man was called the “conscience of the nation;” what more could he have done? But this is exactly how he felt. He regretted not having done more. Even in his old age, after six decades in the houses of Parliament and endless international efforts on all issues moral, he could not rest. When the news was delivered to him personally of the long-awaited emancipation bill that would finally be successful, Wilberforce rose and asked to present the bill himself. He did not have to, nor did he do so for his own glory. Rather, it was the fire of truth in his soul that could not be contained. He had to be a part of it—to do it for the glory of God. And it was a glorious day indeed!
Wilberforce knew who he was. He knew he was a natural man, without even a hope of attaining holiness on his own. But he also understood that he had within him something divine. Wilberforce knew he was, in some small way, a creator like the God he knew and loved. And he used that knowledge to plan, prepare, and perpetuate truth and goodness across the globe.
Wilberforce also understood that he would give an accounting for how he used what God had given him—time, resources, and his gift of intellect. Though none of us is the final judge of any other, I suspect that Wilberforce’s welcome in heaven was glorious. He did not live a perfect life, but he was firmly attached to one who did. And with that firm attachment, he obtained the vision and power to prepare the world for that which is to come.
We each have a part to play in preparing for the return of the Great Creator. May it be a glorious day for each of us!
The Gift of Intellect - chapters:
1-He is Coming
2-Inspired by the Great Creator
3-The Gift of Intellect
4-Intellectual Property
5-Inspired Discoveries
6-Our Place in His-Story
7-His Return
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