About a month ago, Apple released its latest operating system upgrade, OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion. Microsoft has announced the upcoming release of its own operating system upgrade, Windows 8. As I write, I have on my table a letter from our cable TV service provider informing us of the need to “upgrade” to digital equipment within a month. It’s a good thing they will supply the equipment for free.
Sometimes we can get so overwhelmed by these upgrades. With the speed at which technology develops, one is hard pressed to keep up with the pace. Not only can it be costly to the pockets, it can be quite a challenge (for some even stressful) to adapt to the newness—getting used to a new format, learning new operations and procedures, etc.
Yet, in the end, we ultimately still have to come to terms with the fact that technology is moving forward. We can resist the advancement. But sooner or later we either will have to adjust or to abandon technology altogether. And we will be left behind.
Now I do recognize that not all upgrades in technology are necessarily improvements on earlier versions. There have been epic failures in attempts at development. But, overall, in the grand scheme of things, technology still does move forward. So much “cutting edge” technology have become obsolete in a few short years.
Perhaps we may draw some parallels in the spiritual realm. The truth is, the Holy Spirit is continually at work to bring each believer through a constant process of “upgrades” until we attain to the fullness of God in Christ. We are to cooperate with the Spirit by engaging in what is usually called the spiritual disciplines, or “soul training.” The process is not easy, and it can be costly—not merely in a financial way—for it goes even further. The call to discipleship, to engage in the spiritual upgrade process, is the call to die to self. It is a constant process of adjustment and renewal—getting used to a new mindset, learning new ways of behaving and doing things, a new lifestyle.
The upgrades worked out by the Spirit will always be a movement toward something better: “being transformed … from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3.18 ESV). Of course, there will be counterfeit forms of upgrades that may be offered by other sources. We would do well to exercise keen discernment in filtering out the fakes. But never should we abandon the upgrade process itself.
Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that Christianity is only about doing the “minimum requirement” of religiosity. For an authentic follower of Jesus Christ, spiritual upgrades are a given fact of life.
—Keith Jainga