Pop-Ups

One of the things that can really irritate me is an Internet pop-up ad. Despite utilizing the best virus, spyware, and adware tools, it seems as though nothing can prevent them from reaching their goal of getting in the way or slowing down my computer. This usually happens when I am in a hurry or concentrating while performing important research on a project.

I will be reading a web article and once I am finished and ready to go to the next page, I click my mouse on the link and bam! An ad pops up for almost anything you can imagine, but always something that I am not interested in. Sometimes two or three may pop up at a time. I tell ya, it’s not a pretty sight! I particularly hate the ad that has an x for ‘ignore this ad and continue on to the web page you requested’. Another that causes me particular chagrin is the pop-up (usually in the middle of the screen) that warns me that my computer is infected and if I will simply click ‘ok’ I will be taken to a web site where I can purchase a software package that will un-infect me. Usually the displayed ad itself has already infected my computer; at least they are not lying about it. This manner of solicitation borders on the tactics of a bully, if you ask me.

And I have to wonder, does anyone ever buy anything that is forced into their lives in this manner? Is this what we have come to in the Brave New World of advertising?

Maybe there is someone out there on the Internet right now who actually likes these kinds of things. An ad for Viagra? (Sure! click!) An on-line degree from a college no one has ever heard of? (click! Ink me up immediately!) Old classmates you can find now for only $29.99 a month? (Sounds good to me! click! click! click!) I’d like to meet that person simply out of curiosity, if he exists, just to see if my suspicions can be confirmed on the matter.

I ignore these ads. Even if they were giving away free gold (and I’m sure there’s probably an ad that proclaims as much) I would not follow the link. Usually I'll carefully search the ad first to make sure there is a way to clear it. Sometimes if you simply click ‘no thanks’ it could also be an actual acceptance in some form or another. I look for the ‘x’ in the top right corner and if that fails, I use ctrl-alt-del and allow task manager take care of the problem for me. Worst case? I close my browser and reboot, and then run either a spyware or virus scan program. I have to do these things all because of an advertisement for something I am not interested in. Gr-r-r!

These assorted pop-ups in many ways remind me of daily temptations that can come out of left field and blind-side me if I am not constantly vigilant. Satan loves to attack me in the same manner as these ads and I cannot foresee when an attack of his will suddenly ‘pop-up’ in my life. I can be reading my Bible when something will cause me to lose my train of thought and the same example works during my prayer-time. Satan sends a sudden interruption that causes me to lose my thoughts on God and instead will turn that focus elsewhere. How about when I am sitting in church and I become distracted from the preaching of God’s Word by contemplating things from my job or my family, to even the NASCAR race later that afternoon? These attacks sent from the evil one are pop-ups, and I need something that will stop temptation in its tracks before I allow my heart to become infected with sin.

I Corinthians 10 states, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” The temptations that are thrown my way by Satan are the same ones that we all face. I am not different than any other Christian in this matter. And temptations will continue to pop up from time to time and usually they will be unexpected when they do. I do not sin when I am tempted; I only sin when I give in to temptation. This passage of scripture tells me that God will give me an escape in order that I will be able to bear the burden of my temptation and prevent me from falling.

I’ve learned to deal with pop-ups on the Internet. They still bother me but if I am careful and keep my software up to date, I usually do not have a major problem as a result of a chance encounter with them. I am not always successful with temptation as it is a much tougher nut to crack. But God is there, and He is faithful in making sure that more temptation than I should be able to handle does not come my way. He believes in me and knows me better than I know myself. When I am strong and make a stand against evil and find myself successful, with His help, He is proud of me. When I fall flat on my face and give in to temptation, He is there to forgive me and pick me back up again. There is no better friend than Him!