Computers are a necessity of modern life, whether we like it or not. As a pastor, newspaper columnist and author, it is not odd at all for me to spend several hours a day on my computer researching, preparing and writing. My wife, who is also the main church secretary, also spends several hours a day doing computer work. Even when we are driving, one of us will still be working since, like many people today, our phones provide us with rolling Wi-Fi.
But all of this dependency on computers comes with a risk. If anything goes wrong, it can take days or weeks to get everything back right And that is where my unintentional run-in with the Russian Mafia proved to be such a problem.
Some years ago, my former former former laptop began to experience some difficulty. First it started running slow. Then files started disappearing. Then it began to lock up on me and require me to do a hard reboot. And then came the most ominous thing of all. Once or twice a day, for no particular reason, the screen would turn bright blue for a split second, and just before it went completely black, one word would pop up: Virtumod. Most people reading this have already figured out that my computer had gotten a virus.
Before you ask, the answer is yes, I did have an anti-virus program on my computer. At least I did before I got the virus. I say it that way because by the time my screen started going blue, the virus had gotten strong enough to eat my anti-virus program. I mean that literally; my anti-virus protection was no longer on my computer. The virus ate it. It was gone. I am fairly certain I actually heard it burp and lick its electronic lips.
By this time, I knew I needed professional help. So I called a local computer pro, and when I got to the word "Virtumod," he said "Uh-oh, that's bad; that's very bad." He then explained to me that Virtumod was a virus created by the Russian Mafia. It was a special kind of a virus that automatically crashes your computer if it detects an attempt by anti-virus software to scan or remove it. Once it gets strong enough, it eats your anti-virus software and then your hard drive.
Long story short, there was nothing they could do. I had to actually buy a new computer and start over.
I could almost hear them murmuring to themselves, shivering there in the cold of Siberia bundled up in furs and parkas: "Vee got heem, Sergei, hee hee, dat pastore no mur has compewtehr "
I was completely defenseless.
In the spiritual realm, though, my defenses are much more substantial, and so are yours if you are saved. Would you like some encouragement, Christian? According to David, the Lord is your rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, high tower, refuge and Savior.
We also find in the book of Job that God has the very devil himself on a leash and that he cannot come near you without God's permission. Jesus said that he has given you eternal life and that you will never perish, nor will anyone ever be able to pluck you out of the Father's hand.
Paul said that you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Jude said that God is able to keep you from falling. John said that Jesus is your advocate with the Father.
When you got saved, the Lord served the devil with a TPR, a termination of parental rights. We can now cry, "Abba, Father," to God the Father. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit; we have the written Word of God; we have his promise to provide for our needs; and we have been told that he will never leave us nor forsake us.
Friends, we may accidentally run afoul of the Russian Mafia or even the devil himself. But the saved are nonetheless as secure as if we had arrived in heaven yesterday.
Take that, Sergei.
Bo Wagner is pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, North Carolina, a widely traveled evangelist and author of several books available on Amazon and at www.wordofhismouth.com. Email him at 2knowhim@cbc-web.org.