Techn ology is awesome. I love my l apt op, smart phone and microwave oven. Having indoor plumbing is an added advantage as well as electric lights and air conditioning. Automobiles today have most certainly gained from technological advances (power seats and windows, cruise control and built in GPS’).

I was on an elevator last week and when the elevator came to a floor and stopped, a soft, gentle, feminine voice was gracious enough to announce the number of the floor you were at. Too cool.

However, the technology has come too far in one area or room to be specific…the bathroom. I mean, really, do we need a stool that flushes for us or water that comes on automatically after we have used the soap dispenser (which also comes on when hands are placed under them)? Is that a convenience or is that laziness?

The one I hate the most, though, is the automatic hand dryers. Now, don’t get me wrong, they are okay and they get the job done…kind of. But, they are noisy and they just don’t do the job a paper towel does. It doesn’t matter how long you keep your hands under them and how much you rub your hands under them, you still end up wiping your hands on your shirt, jeans, slacks or the person next to you (okay, I personally have never tried that, but if they offer…). And those new turbodryers, they don’t just dry the hands but peel the skin off of them while making you go deaf at the same time (probably have to be loud so you don’t notice the screams of the people whose skin is coming off their hands). The creators mean well, but it just isn’t the same and doesn’t do the same thing.

And on top of that, I never know if the stools will flush when I leave, the water will come on when I put my hand under the faucet or soap dispense. I have even been caught putting my hand under the paper towel dispenser with no towels dispensing. Then someone will come up and twist a spindle, push ‘a’ or something simple showing me it’s not automatic. I’M SO CONFUSED!

It reminds me of God’s word and what we do in the world…imitate. Try to be something we are not. WE try to get as close to the real or genuine but we are not…original (still having to wipe hands on pants). Some try to be as close to a Christian as possible but never make commitment. Some try to mimic the actions of others, Jesus, God or His word. They carry their Bible, can say King James sounding prayers, drop money in the offering and support the missions offerings, go to Sunday School, Worship, Wednesday night Bible study and revival services. However, they just do not have the personal relationship with Jesus that comes only through faith by grace (repentance).

That is exactly what the Greek word for imitate is…mimētes. We get our word mimic from it. People mimic others to be something they can get very close to but cannot duplicate exactly. Satan wants us to do this very thing. Imitate but do not become. If we just get the actions down without the commitment, we are no threat to Satan.

Sometimes all this is so confusing as to what it means to actually be a believer/ Christian. We have too many going through the motions. Like the automatic hand dryers, they make lots of noise for others to notice and get head nods of approval but with no commitment, we don’t get the job done (hands aren’t dry…salvation is not ours). Jesus even warns of this group in the Gospels (Matt. 7:21-23). They imitated the actions but did not know Jesus personally.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go find a paper towel to dry my hands. Go and imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1) Bro.Tim