LOOK!

LOOK!

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

John 3:3 Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see [Greek: a primary verb (action word) meaning to literally or figuratively be aware and behold, consider and perceive knowledge, understand and be sure and tell] the kingdom of God without being born from above."

Romans 12:1-2 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

  Yesterday afternoon for a few hours my “Two years old.” greatgranddaughter provided delightful companionship with her recurring declaration “Look at this!” I thoroughly enjoyed seeing what she discovered. The experience did however set me to thinking about how easily our sight can be manipulated and fixed upon other than the present and eternal reality of Jesus’ realm.

  Too often we allow media, whether foxy or not, Herald or Banner, to focus our vision. They choose a newsworthy event or issue and Tom-Tom it relentlessly when there’s much much more happening nationally and internationally. But then maybe an occasional around-the-world-in-90 seconds is comprehensive?

  To illustrate by example: How many of you remember HIV/AIDS as the endlessly streaming news? Where did it go, less of a problem, away? How about drunk driving? Remember when it was THE NEWS?

Or when a hurricane is worrisome whirly off our Atlantic coast . . . is there other weather in USA, or Europe, or Africa, or Asia, or ______? Then there’s the guy people can’t stop seeing because he’s like “A car crash --- you just can’t look away!”.

  A few facts from a recent USA year: 13,712 HIV deaths is more than 11,208 gun homicides is more than 10,076 drunk driving fatalities. And at any given time air blows hot and cold on many continents and platforms.

  After reading the above words what are you seeing? Your childhood? Grandchildren? Bill O’Reilly? Charlie Rose? The weather? Homosexuality? Drunk drivers? Blowhards? Or the greater importance of seeing all that was, is, or will be thru the lens of God’s kingdom within the kingdom(s) that the worldly media talks so much about?

  Jesus explained “My kingdom is not of his world”. (Jn.18:36) But oh my it does take concentrated effort see His Way as we live among flashing visuals, dinning trumpeters, . . . and lovely little lads and lassies.

EBB4

PS. I would much rather while my day away sitting and watching Sapphire “Nicely swing.” Under the backyard oak tree.