Memories of Y2K
I don’t know how it is in other countries, but in America, we love to obsess. Whether it’s the latest scandal, or national tragedy, or something political going on, we Americans love our drama. It’s one of the reasons I don’t receive a newspaper, nor do I ever watch the news. It’s all F.U.D. (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) meant to spin me up into a tizzy.
People who are preoccupied with drama are easy to control.
Y2K, which stands for “The Year 2,000”, is a great example of the power of media and the propagation of misinformation resulting in widespread fear, panic, and a real sense of impending doom. Part of the issue was that twenty-five years ago people were significantly less knowledgeable about technology, in general. Computers were still quite confusing to most people (beyond the basics, like how to turn them on, use a mouse and keyboard, etc.). Without getting too technical, Y2K represented an issue with computer programs that would “crash” once the system clock they depended on rolled over to the new millennium. It was a known flaw that was fixable. So, a bunch of engineers fixed it, and nothing substantial ever really happened (at least not to the scale peddled by the media – e.g., commercial airliners would fall out of the sky!).
In retrospect, the Y2K scare is laughable. But, having lived through it, I’ll say that at the time some folks were acting irrational. I’d say that people’s fear was much worse than the actual problem.
The question begging to be answered is this: How could something like this ever happen? To me, that’s the most interesting question of all.
I always turn to the Bible for answers because that’s the only source of truth that I know is 100% accurate, especially when it comes to discerning the actions of people.
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.
– Ecclesiastes 1:9-10
This is the first insight worth noting – Y2K is a symptom of something that has plagued humanity since the dawn of its history.
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
– Proverbs 29:25
The real reason Y2K grew fangs was because, as a rule, mankind doesn’t trust the Lord.
Computers have been created by humans, right? Are we to suppose that mere human ingenuity can somehow thwart God’s will?
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
– Isaiah 55:11
Y2K hysteria simply proves that without faith in our Creator, we fear that which is left over, namely, the creations of man. “Rogue” computer programs became boogeymen because people feared what they might do to them.
We must always remember that the Lord is in control of human history (ref: Hebrews 1:3) and you, my friend, are a part of it. If you were meant to suffer or even die from Y2K, guess what? God ordained it (Psalm 139:16). Neither a creature nor his inventions will ever overcome the Creator.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
– Romans 8:31
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
– Psalm 56:3-4
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
– Psalm 118:6
I think what bums me out the most is when I see so-called “Christians” acting like unbelievers, all worked up as if God has no say in their future. I wrote a blog back in 2020 titled, Crisis: The Hysterics and the Gnostics, that digs a little deeper into this topic. Suffice to say that the point of today’s blog is not just to explore the wonderment of people’s fear, but also to prescribe a Biblical response to remind you of Who’s really in control.
As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, the source of all this is an ancient issue. Consider what God said to Cain right before he went and murdered his brother, Abel, in Genesis 4:7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Sin is always at the ready to deceive you into doubting God. Amid the Y2K scare, I’m confident it got the best of many believers, even. The result was a lengthy bout of restlessness and lack of peace. All for naught.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
– John 14:27
Again, Y2K was a symptom of an ancient weakness. We are all born weak because we are all born with an old sin nature. That nature doesn’t trust the Lord; rather, it leans on its own understanding, relegating itself to F.U.D. As a result of being in a constant state of fear, some become debilitated by it. What a tragedy.
People who are preoccupied with drama are easy to control. Who benefits most from this (hint: it rhymes with the town where the famous Boston Red Sox pitcher, Roger Clemens, was born)?
As they say, history repeats itself. So be prepared for the next big wave of fear mongering and remember that 99% of the time it amounts to nothing. Maybe this time you’ll be a bit better prepared to withstand the temptation to join the fray. In the meantime, why not take some sound advice from Holy Scripture?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 4:6-7
God bless you and keep you safe.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins