Apple is a new type of kingdom. You can watch monthly drone flyover's of the Apple HQ construction progress at this link: https://youtu.be/eyzvBKnVw98.
The recently fired Google employee described the atmosphere as an ideological echo chamber. Employees are there for their technical prowess and management brilliance, but anything that runs against the cultural grain is forbidden. These massive, super popular, super wealthy companies become small empires that both reflect and influence culture, for good or evil and often for both.
I like the photo above, because it shows a colorful, but rusty and eccentric mechanical windmill in front of the Apple HG. This object is a type of art, but is ultimately just a flashy, but rust set of parts that are destined for decay and ultimately destruction. What we cherish about Apple is a lot like that rusty, flashy windmill. It catches are attention for the moment. It has a useful function, but ultimately it will decay and is destined for the dustbin of history. No king or emperor or CEO of an empire ever seems to realize how temporary the stuff is and how long eternity is. As Christians, we are called to place our hope in eternal things - the God stuff of forever - that does not rust or decay or get stolen.
Apple likes the long, smooth lines, consistent with its Infinite Loop address. There is only One who is Infinite, with no beginning and no end. When we become related to Him by repenting of our rebellion against Him and accepting His adoption of us as children, we are given an address in eternity that will never decay or fade away or be taken from us.
The Apple HQ is surrounded by a fence embedded in concrete. The fence has no cross bars, but it is intended to communicate an illusion of openness and symmetry. The reality is that Apple uses extreme security precautions. While that is understandable, there can also be a fortress mentality - a kingdom mentality - that leads to both an attitude of superiority and arrogance and a desire to exclude ideas and people that are inconsistent with the Apple kingdom values.
We too have kingdom values - values established by our King - but we don't have to hunker down in security behind a fortress, but be out in culture taking on the gates of Hades, because Jesus is with us and He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. We don't have to fear. The kingdoms of this world can only hurt our bodies, not our souls. We must remember that we are souls with temporary bodies. One of Jesus' favorite greetings is, "fear not." We have a coming King who is King of kings and Lord of lords.
So, what did I pray? I prayed that God would raise up Apple board members and leaders with godly values. I prayed that existing board members and leaders would be transformed by the Gospel and the Holy Spirit. I prayed that the less significant employees doing the menial work would wear the cross boldly and represent Jesus well. I prayed that leaders there who are bent on evil would be transformed or removed and that people who have godly values will be elevated there. I prayed that Apple would be a force for good and not for evil. I prayed that God will be glorified there and through that enterprise.
As I walked, I looked for signs of the Gospel, the "Christian Church" down the street, the tall white cross on a church across the street, the crosses hanging from car mirrors and around people's necks. I prayed that the Gospel and the cross would become embedded in the hearts and minds of the employees of Apple.
As you walk through life, pray with your eyes open. What businesses and people around you need your prayers in order to bring the values and hope and Gospel of Jesus' kingdom into your world?