“The API As Metaphor” (Genesis Chapter 2; Job; Matthew 4:1-11; John 14-16; 1Cor.15:24-28) [Pandemic series; Job series generally]

A metaphor is common in the world of spirit life,
Our military weapons which are new, a common sight –
Like archery for Bible days – to “Miss the mark” was “Sin”;
For “Falling short of targets”, once “Trajectory” begins –

Was common in those cultures as they battled back and forth;
They comprehended righteousness as nothing of the sort –
A “Bull’s-eye” was where bar was set when weighing how they’d done;
“Intention” and “One’s effort” had to factor “Wind and sun”.

Today it is computers which we use to speak of God –
Just “Plug in there” and “Turn Him on” does not to us seem odd;
“Transistors”, “Mice”, and “Interfaces”, “Crashes” and the like;
“Dark web”, with “Hacks” and “Viruses” speak well of satan’s might.

I heard a coding term, though more obscure, has thought-full power –
It’s “API”, of use to all, we use them by the hour –
It’s where a coding-person can make functionality
Of other mini-programs work as well for you and me.

The reason they are used is that they make a coder’s life
Quite simple – bits of code are used to harness function’s might;
One need not understand how “Santa works to bring the goods” –
Because “He will deliver – milk and cookies understood”.

So long as “All is well in life”, then “Santa brings the toys”;
He does his “Workshop thing up north for all good girls and boys”;
Just how “He knows”, “The list”, and “Sleigh”, with “Reindeer ’cross the sky”,
Are mysteries when we are young (the winks come by and by).

So mini-programs that perform are many and diverse,
With API connections, they’re updated from the first;
When all is simple, few demands are made by larger schemes,
But ramped-up functionality, are coder’s answered dreams.

So how is that of use to us as we engage in speech,
’Bout good, and evil, satan’s power, and God beyond our reach?
An API must be hooked up with little bits of code,
Then “Calls”, “Responses” can exchange to ease the program’s load –

While adding functionality to “Motherboard” and “Chips”
Augmenting our “Computing power”, but I would be remiss
If I gave the impression that we’ll see beyond the veil
Where API hooks in to other end – know what’s entailed.

“Proprietary info” is stock answer that we are given;
Just write up the connecting code to augment future living;
But there’s a choice of mini-programs, all with API’s
For us to choose from for our lives, from birth until we die.

We get to choose the “Functions” we will use to do our thing –
Initial choice, right from the box, first moral issues bring;
Our parents’ guidance, culture’s ways, are potent in extreme,
As habits form while we engage in life (as it has been).

I ponder Your three choices at the first of task back then –
For forty days you looked at API’s and how they end;
 At functionality of satan, ways he does his life;
And Spirit of the Father; promised Kingdom o’er the strife.

Same `choice is ours – the “Mean and mean” or “Kingdom-life” plugged in;
We need not understand black box, and satan’s ways of sin;
There’s power and functionality available in each;
Our choice is made with bits of code – both API’s in reach.

“A bread machine to feed the folks”, first API at hand;
“Protection from great falls in life for You and for Your band”;
“Supremacy o’er all the earth, all kingdoms in Your sway,
If you’d just take this API, code into life my way.”

You chose the higher way, became our “Way, and Truth, and Life”;
With invitation to join in with You, and satan fight
’Till principalities, and powers, and forces of the night,
Are crushed by love, as You, through us, bring to the darkness light.

And what of us, what must we do? Say “yes” to what’s been done
By You back there at Calvary when evil blocked the Son;
Then You arose from worst he had to bring against Your life,
To offer one and all God’s API, not satan’s blight.

Lord, every metaphor breaks down, but, “Here’s to increased thought!”
Thanks for this bit of insight, and illumination wrought;
So much for me to ponder as I listen once again
To books like Job whose author faced collapsing life and pain –

Today it’s this pandemic, and it’s danger for the world;
Tomorrow will be something else, like pinwheel’s constant twirl;
Thanks for that central pin of stillness, midst the howling storm –
Your presence, peace, and power in life, and APIs as norm.

Thanks Lord for this.

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