Apple announced the upcoming release of the upgrades of the operating systems (OS) of their devices. Many users of Apple gadgets look forward to these upgrades. But, this time around, with the announcement of the new iOS 11 (for the iPhone and iPad) also comes a warning about certain apps that will no longer function after the upgrade.
The issue is compatibility. Apps with the old 32-bit architecture will cease to function with the iOS 11. If we still use considerably any of these 32-bit apps, it is recommended that we do not upgrade to the new system. If they are apps that we rarely use anyway, then we will have no problem.
The current iOS already has a tool that allows users to determine which of their current apps, if any, will suffer a sure demise with the upgrade. You may then choose to delete them, or to find an updated 64-bit version, if available.
I am not a sophisticated techie, but I think I understand enough to recognize that the 64-bit architecture performs more efficiently (assuming there are no major bugs with the upgrade). So, overall, it is worthwhile to take the step toward the upgrade, and get rid of the apps that are incompatible with the new system.
I am reminded of Jesus’ words concerning the gospel which offers the most important and only worthwhile upgrade to human existence. In a manner similar to the new operating system of the iPhone or iPad, there are certain things existing in a person’s life or belief system that will definitely be incompatible with the gospel and the new life in Christ. For anyone to experience the fullness of what Christ offers, these things must be “deleted.”
Jesus tells us: “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins” (Mark 2.21–22 NIV).
Jesus can never be just an addition or appendix to our broken and sin-riddled life (like a software “patch” to address a security problem, for example). But no patchwork can provide a truly effective or enduring solution to the problem. A patch may make things look good or feel good, but only for a moment. What we need is for Christ to become the totally new operating system of our life, transforming how everything works and getting rid of everything that is incompatible with the gospel of Christ.
It is a good thing for our life to get an upgrade to the Christ-OS.
—Keith Y. Jainga