Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
Artificial Intelligence has been the big story in the past year and now robots are being produced with amazingly lifelike attributes. No matter how lifelike they are, however, they are still lifeless, much like the idols in the psalm. They have lifelike features but do not possess the attributes the Creator endowed us with. Unfortunately, the psalmist says, when people trust in fake gods, they become fake themselves and lose the ability to be human, and humane. The violent work of human hands in the world is the sad result.
There are many things made with human hands that are so lifelike that people think they will make them like life. Time and again, man has found out otherwise. Money is important but is not the secret to a happy life. Possessions have a nasty tendency to possess us in the end. That which we call life-giving eventually renders us lifeless as we trust in things instead of the Creator of all things. Today, may we worship the real giver of life, Jesus Christ, who gave up his life that we may live life to the full. May we instead be like him.
Dear Lord, thank you for the creature comforts you provide for us but may we never forget the Creator and Savior that is the giver of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.