Yesterday afternoon we received a phone call from a caller that was IDed as being from Atlanta, GA.
The caller asked for my wife by name, by her first name.
As is my custom, I asked who was calling.
The caller identified herself as Sandy, with a group name that I do not remember, and said that she was calling about the Pro-Life issue.
Her manner of speaking was unusual, not flowing with the normal flow that I expected. Having read of robotic phone calls, I asked whether she was a real person.
She chuckled and said that she was a real person, and added that she has a slight speech impediment that might make her sound unreal, but that she was a real person.
This I knew was unreal and asked, “What is your name?”
She responded, saying, “Uh, huh,” with a pause of a second or two and then, “Sandy.”
After this the matter was confirmed and I ended the call.
I called back the number displayed on the caller ID, and the ear piercing tone sounded with the recorded announcement: “The number you have reached is not in service. This is a recording.”
So, now we not only have computers programmed to call us and harass us, but these robotic callers also have been programmed to respond with lies to our inquiries. This has been occurring for some time, but now the lies are becoming more sophisticated.
I find this to be disturbing.
The phone company informed me that such is now possible using software that gives false phone numbers and ID’s. This way the callers bypass attempts at blocking unidentified callers so that this safeguard does not protect a person from such callers.
Technology. Uh huh. As is often the case, what is touted as wonderful and liberating is frequently invasive and problematic. Progress. Technology.
I miss the simplicity of times past. At least then the Decepticons were human and somewhat accountable. Or at least so we thought. More and more it is being revealed that deceivers have always hidden behind another form or a mask or a pseudo-identity. It has been so from the very first deception by the father of lies. I suppose it is foolish to imagine that anything under the sun has changed.
So what do we do? Be aware and on guard for ourselves and for others. Make the Decepticons known when it is possible. Stand ready to help and comfort those who suffer from the deception and theft and other harm. Proclaim the One who never lies, who is always faithful, who has provided the way through every trial and trouble even before we encounter them. Sing the hymns of pure doctrine and everlasting hope and peace and joy. Live in that hope and peace and joy. Partake of the pure and unadulterated means of His grace.
It is good to know that the Lord is real, and that His voice and Word and doctrine are consonant, and that He has come as He promised and has given Himself for us, even unto the death of the cross, and has risen from the dead and ascended again to His heavenly throne and has sent His Spirit at Pentecost, all as He has promised repeatedly and consistently of old. When He calls to us, it is always through the same means as He has ordained. His proclamation has not changed. His means continue unchanged.
With this before us, what does it matter if the Decepticons attempt their futile deceptive acts against us? Ultimately what do we lose? The kingdom is ours in Christ our Lord. We are more than conquerors though the one having loved us. We don’t even have to fight. We don’t even have to strive to win. The victory and the kingdom have been declared to be ours through the faith that also is given to us freely by the grace of God at work through His means. What is really left but to abide in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and to sigh the great and peaceful sigh of Amen?
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