Back in secondary school days, we had a Computer Science teacher, who taught us the history and evolution of computers. For the 6 years I spent in secondary school. I was not fortunate enough to set my eyes on a computer. However, I could boldly talk about Punch Cards, binary numbers and Blaise Pascal and the grand fathers of computing.
Fast-forward; in a Federal University of Technology, for a whole semester, I attended computer science classes. The kind lecturer still taught us the same history of computers. The only difference this time was that we also took lessons on obsolete programming languages. At the end of that semester, all I could do with a computer was: Slot in a diskette in the disk drive, format the disk, type my name and click save. That was all!
Fast-fast-forward, it’s 2013 and my three year old can switch on an iPad and swipe through to locate his favourite app. I always have a good laugh when he swipes the screen of my laptop, believing it is touch screen. He has not learnt the history of computers but he’s doing far more than what my Computer Science lecturer taught me at the University. This paints the picture of how knowledge has so increased in the world today. Almost every bit of information you are looking for is available at your fingertips, thanks to wonderful search engines.
Paul was writing to Timothy so many years ago and he said that some people were as he put it; Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. I wonder what he would say if he were here today. The truth is that knowledge has increased, but the question is: what knowledge?
The preacher said in Ecclesiastes 12: 12 – 14: “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. “
I personally believe that this is the knowledge that will matter in time. All other things will fade, new models will evolve. But there can never be a new model of this very truth. Seek to get this knowledge, and you would have acquired everything.
Chidi Ukandu's Blog 