Kurzweil has lots more predictions. In the last five or so years gadgets in our pockets (smart phones) have allowed us to easily access knowledge from all over the world and back through history via the internet. Kurzweil predicts that by the 2030’s ordinary people will have all this implanted in their brains. Instead of looking at a gadget we’ll find answers by just thinking a question.

Eventually, Kurzweil predicts that we’ll have holographic versions of our ancestors to look at and speak to and that we’ll even find ways to turn off the aging process.

Kurzweil is a technological optimist. He’s hoping that technology will save the human race.

So where will Ray Kurzweil be in 3011? In a thousand years from now? The Bible says there is a limit on how long we live. By 3011 all people who are presently alive will have come face to face with God. You see, the earth may continue for thousands or even millions of years. But you and I won’t be here. God’s limit is called death. And it happens to us all.

Death is a punishment for disobedience. We humans may be clever with gadgets, but we certainly don’t know how to relate to the God who made us. We ignore Him and treat him like a tiresome inconvenience. Even though he sustains the created universe and provides the very air we breathe.

And God’s not that impressed with our cleverness. No matter how clever we are, we can’t avoid the consequences of ignoring Him. The Bible promises repeatedly that all people will come face to face with God in order to give an account for what they’ve done in this life. And the most important question we will have to answer will be ‘How have you responded to my son Jesus?’

This is what Jesus says about this question: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s anger remains on him.” (John 3:36)

So, take time to get to know Jesus. Thank him for coming to save us from death. Make a decision to trust in Jesus for the rest of eternity.

Bible verse: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Join us at Highways Cafe for a chat. Each Monday night during school term.

We’re not meant to be alone. A 2001 study done by the American Psychosomatic Society found that isolated people die sooner. If you’re alone it’s hard to get medical help. But that wasn’t the significant reason. Put simply, the body of a socially isolated person doesn’t function as well as other people. Why? Well, science has only some answers to offer.

For example, touch is important. When you’re touched warmly, the body releases Oxytocin, a hormone that builds trust and reduces levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. While this is fascinating it’s only a small part of the story. Psychology has shown that that we’re social creatures. We need affirmation, encouragement… we long to work in teams.

And there are so many ingredients that make up a meaningful relationship: finding common ground, laughing, learning from others, trusting, surviving hardship… the list goes on and on. And just when we think the list is complete, we discover another important factor.

We humans are good at analysing the parts of things with science and psychology and so forth. But it’s impossible to understand the ‘whole’ without hearing from the maker. God is the one who understands relationships best because He made us. And our greatest purpose is to be in relationship. Firstly with God, but then with other people. God is so clever at making relationships work that He designed sex to help husbands and wives know each other more deeply. It’s not too small a thing to say that ‘relationships are the most important thing in the universe’.

The Bible says through its many pages that we should walk with God. From Noah at the start who walked with God, then Abraham, to whom God said, ‘Walk before me and be blameless’ through to the writers of the New Testament who insist that we ‘walk by the Spirit’ of God. So what does it mean to ‘Walk with God’? It means getting to know God by listening to His voice in the Bible. It means praying to His son Jesus.

Jesus died on the cross to make relationship with God possible. And Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit of God into the hearts of all those who trust in him. At the end of Matthew’s gospel Jesus encouraged his disciples with these words: “…behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, don’t walk alone. Walk with God.

Join us at Highways Cafe for a chat. Each Monday night during school term.