I previously wrote about Kodachromes and their important role it played with my education and training. One indispensable person who assisted me on many of my presentations was Jake, who worked in our pathology department during the years when I was a resident. Jake was the laboratory photographer and he was tasked to photograph interesting specimens that we received in surgical pathology or on the autopsy service. However, most of his time was spent photographing countless pages of textbooks and medical journals, creating Kodachromes for presentations by the residents and faculty.
By the time I was completing my residency, the transition to digital photography was beginning. Thankfully he retired before his job was discontinued, another occupation rendered obsolete by technology.
Obsolescence.
We see it happening before us. Check out counters at markets and department stores are being replaced by self-checkout scanners. Self-driving cars are being tested as taxis. While we may applaud the streamlining of everyday activities, lurking behind all of these advances is this fear. Are we becoming obsolescent? Some pundits state that within as little as five years, one third of all jobs will be replaced by software and/or robots.
What about our spiritual lives? What about our relationships with other Christians? Perhaps the songs we sing will become outdated. Many churches will have a service with traditional hymns and another service with contemporary music, replete with electronic keyboards and guitars driving a hip-hop beat. Some services welcome texting during the sermons, encouraging communication within the congregation and with the pastor and other teaching staff. Even the terminology has changed. Unbelievers or non-believers are now seekers. This has all happened in the last twenty years. What will be next?
Could our relationship with God ever become obsolete? Never!
Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed.
But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.
Psalms 102:25-27 (NKJV)
There may be a fear that our current occupations may become obsolescent. Technology may change the way we do things but God never changes. He created the earth and the heavens and He created technology. He knows how to guide us to best utilize our skills and talents to serve Him and His Kingdom.
Obsolescence may be inevitable but spiritual obsolescence will never happen when we allow God to be in control.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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