OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY
Philippians 2: 1-2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
By Van Yandell
A word we often hear in this day in age is “connected.” To be connected is to be joined together in agreement of our belief in Christ Jesus as our God and our Creator (John 1: 1-3).
I once taught a children’s lesson with an old style single bulb flashlight. Taking the flashlight apart, I used a short length of copper wire to connect the base of the bulb to the negative end of the battery.
When the positive connect point on the end of the bulb was touched to the positive end of the battery, the bulb came on. This was the simplest and most effective way to teach to children the effects of an effective electrical connection.
Being connected to our Creator and each other is as essential to our existence as any human interaction.
Many students of the Bible have come to realize that the Bible proves itself from within itself. Eternal salvation is by a faith based belief in our glorious Savior Jesus (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
Many with today’s twenty-first century attitudes refuse to believe anything pertaining to the supernatural spiritual realm without proof. Admittedly there is no proof but there is substantial evidence. None of us were in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified; was resurrected or ascended alive into Heaven.
How much evidence would it take to satisfy the skeptical non-believers as proof? Many are in prisons today based on evidence but absence of proof. If no one saw the crime committed can circumstantial evidence serve as proof?
We accept faith as a legitimate belief system in our lives every day. Every step we take or bite of food we consume is based on faith and there are hundreds of other examples. So why not believe in our Creator based on faith?
We know the Bible was penned between 1900 and 3500 years ago because of the findings of the Dead Sea scrolls in 1947. There is no way men could have known during those years many of the earth’s physical characteristics that are stated in the Bible.
Could King David have known 3000 years ago about ocean currents (Psalm 8: 8)? Could Job have known the earth is free-floating in space (Job 26: 7)? Could Jeremiah have known there are literally trillions of stars in the universe (Jeremiah 33: 22)?
Of course the answers to these questions are obvious! Only a Creator could have known these and many other facts related to physics, astronomy, biology and many other sciences.
Being out of touch with reality is epidemic in our world today. Ignorance is not bliss and to be misinformed is being a victim. We are all victims of misinformation. Generation D is among us (D is for deceived).
The misinformation may be religious, political, sexual, nutritional or health related. Political factions have convinced many that socialistic/communistic forms of government are good for everyone. To embrace socialism is to admit defeat. One confesses failure and chooses to be sustained in a communal environment. To be dependent is to be conquered for the hierarchy and for their pleasure.
Fifty years ago Americans were in the jungles of South Vietnam fighting communism and now many are embracing such a form of government. At times we have gotten ourselves into a situation we regretted. To live in a communistic type of governing would be such a case.
I have known and worked with people in communist countries and their oppression is beyond the understanding of a free American. Those living in socialist nations work for their government. Levels of taxes are so high little is left for their personal lives other than bare sustenance.
We must ask ourselves “Why are so many citizens of Venezuela willing to walk hundreds of miles to escape socialism?” Why is America, a capitalistic, free enterprise system so lucrative to people from all over the world?
People from many of the 195 countries in the world are willing to risk their lives and give up their homes and families to come to America. Why? What are they running from? They are running from the very systems that many Americans are embracing!
We can no longer allow our young people to grow up ignorant. America was founded on freedom and many want to give that up. Several generations suffered from the Marxist policies and actions of Lenin and Stalin before the fall of communism in 1991. Russian citizens are now enjoying a freedom not known for over seventy years.
Why must we be the victims of lies and deceptions? We must wake up and engage a discerning and rational awareness. To the lazy, a sack of beans and rice sound enticing but to the energetic and those with a high work ethic, there are greater goals to work for.
Being out of touch with the reality of the Gospel can also have consequences. To refuse the God-offered everlasting life as stated in the Holy Bible (John 3: 16) is far beyond “out of touch.” It is absolute madness! Why throw that in the trash like garbage?
Matthew 7: 6 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary. His email is vmy3451@gmail.com