Is Y2K Your Greatest Fear?

THE YEAR 2000 BUGIs Y2K Your Greatest Fear? Businesses and governments are spending billions of dollars and devoting countless hours in an effort to find and fix the problem. January 1st, 2000, could be the worst day in modern history. The so-called year 2000 bug, or Y2K (K=1000), affects computer systems that control everything from heart monitors to air traffic. The problem stems from the use in computers of two digits to represent the year in dates. For instance, the current year is represented as 99 instead of 1999. While this does not sound like a very big problem, when the calendar reaches the year 2000, many computers will not recognize 00 as a valid year. Systems that control such things as the flow of electricity in power grids, the interest on your loans, and the service schedule for industrial equipment may all grind to a halt. Are you afraid of Y2K? A lot of experts who have been studying the problem for several years now, while not advocating panic, are recommending a healthy dose of caution, because this is a problem that has the potential to have devastating effects in nearly every area of our lives. The Problem
Why did this happen and what is being done about it? Years ago computer resources were much more limited than they are today, and every effort was made to conserve those resources; using two digits for the year was one of those efforts. Many programmers knew there would be a problem in the year 2000, but since it was 30-40 years in the future, they did not think their programs would still be in use today. As a result, businesses and governments are now spending billions of dollars and devoting countless hours in an effort to find and fix all instances of the problem. This is certainly not an easy job, as there are billions of lines of computer code that must be checked and corrected, much of it manually. Compounding the problem is the fact that many computer chips, such as those found in telecommunications satellites, security systems, home computers, and machinery of all kinds will not be able to recognize the turn of the century. The search is on to find and replace these chips. One of the greatest fears regarding Y2K is that public utilities, including water, gas, telephone, and electricity suppliers may suffer disruptions or total collapses of their service. Power outages are possible, but the size and scope of these blackouts is impossible to predict because of the complexity of the power production network and the difficulties involved with finding and fixing all of the affected chips and programs. The banking and securities industries are also affected, since computers deal with everything from deposit and withdrawal dates to interest calculations. While most banks expect to have their own problems fixed in time, many services relying on the transfer of accurate information from one bank to another, including ATM (automatic teller machine) transactions, the clearing of checks, and so on, may be affected, as corrupted data invades the systems. The global economy, which has proven itself to be delicate and volatile, could also feel the impact of Y2K. The Bigger Problem
While the world begins to realize and deal with the problem of Y2K, an even bigger problem looms. It is a problem that will not go away, that threatens more than the loss of power and heat, and will bring loss far greater than the loss of all the wealth in the world. It is the problem of sin and the judgment of sin by a holy and righteous God. Just as programmers didn’t think their actions would affect the future, do you mistakenly believe that when your life is over that that’s the end? You have a never-dying soul! God’s Word says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27 KJV). Are you afraid of losing power and heat in the dead of winter? You should be more afraid of spending eternity in the “blackness of darkness for ever” in the “fire that never shall be quenched” (Jude 13; Mk. 9:43). Jesus said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28). Are you afraid that your money might be misplaced or lost, or that a global depression might affect your life? You should be more afraid of losing your soul: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk. 8:36). Even if you lost the wealth of the entire world, this would not compare to losing your soul. The Solution
Are you waiting for someone to step forward with a complete solution to the Y2K problem? Those who understand the enormous scope of the problem know that this is impossible. But with the problem of sin - a much larger problem already affecting everyone in the world - someone has already provided the solution. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, stepped forward “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). When Jesus was crucified, He bore our sins “in His own body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). The problem has been identified, and the answer has been provided - but the big question is, have you put it to work in your life? “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (Jn. 3:36). You must repent of your sins to God and trust Jesus Christ, who died for you and rose again, as your personal Savior and Lord. Then, no matter what the year 2000 brings, you will have peace in your soul, knowing that you are prepared for eternity and that your future is secure in Christ. This article is available in tract form from Moments With The Book, P.O. Box 322, Bedford, PA 15522, USA.