We live in a world of computers and connectivity where the IoT has taken over our lives it seems. Everywhere we turn, there's a WiFi network you can login to, or there's a cell tower it seems. So how does this have anything to do with Broken Fathers? White hat programmers vs. black hat programmers are representative of good vs. evil in my opinion. Hackers, Phishers, Bots, Viruses etc. are all created by programmers out there who are trying to tilt the scales in favor of exploiters either for profit, or to make a political statement. Anti-virus / Anti-piracy and defense from these "black hats" are code written to protect us against the aforementioned by "white hats". So it goes back to good vs. evil.

Matthew 7:15-20

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7 sums it up. The world will know us by the fruit we produce. If we are constantly creating "crazy" in other people's or our own lives, then we're not saved, we don't know Jesus. Once Jesus changes somebody, they are changed and "can" stay changed if that's the desire of their heart.

Proverbs 26:11

As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

2 Peter 2:22

But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

So you see the bible is wise to how people are, and what that really means is that God is wise to how people are. Why? Because He created us. He actually created us in His own image, so we may look very similar to other people, but what kind of fruit do you grow? What kind of results do your actions cause? Think about that for a moment and decide by the fruit in your life what's in your heart. Are you a "black" hat or a "white" hat.

When we read the living word of God, the Bible, we cannot help but absorb truth and light, it's because it's the living word of God. It permeates our very soul, it either moves us to change for the better, or sometimes it scares us and we hide from it, as I did for years. I didn't think I could ever be a Christian even though I actually was. I didn't think I could measure up to what the disciples and apostles did by following Christ and leaving behind everything they knew simply because they saw Jesus and He spoke to them. I couldn't because "I" couldn't. That's what's incredible, we will NEVER be able to carry that burden alone, but being a Christian and knowing Christ and accepting Him into our hearts is the most fundamental step in experiencing God. Failure leads to character, and growth. Failure can make us humble and cause us to realize that we could never do life the way God intended for His creation to experience life without Him leading the way. Faith is required if you want to live for Christ and set others above yourself. We have to experience the "substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen".

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Does that sound kind of cryptic? It did to me, I had to really think about that verse because to hope for something is just that, it's hope. It's having your sights on something you want, or dream of. But evidence of things not seen? Now we're getting into the spiritual realm it appears. That would be correct, Faith is something of the spiritual realm because we humans are spiritual beings. We have to "project" in our hearts and souls and minds the good things we hope for and begin to act and think and talk in a way that's going to bring that into existence with God's leadership.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

We have to choose Christ, He already chose us, we have to want to be in His family, He already made the way. That way is Jesus, He's the only way. He is the truth and the light, He heals broken hearts, He makes the old new, He makes the lame to walk again. Did you know that Jesus is still in the business of saving and changing people's hearts and lives? Did you know that Jesus is going to rise again, and He's going to snatch up His believers, those who took the narrow path. You can't earn it, you can't buy it.

What do you want to be? A "black" hat or a "white" hat programmer in life. Do you want to lead others to Christ and let your light for good shine, or do you want to go to the pit and drag others down with you? There is actually no middle ground, there really is no moderation, there is no riding the fence, you either trust and love the Lord or you don't. Make the right choice.