WHAT IS REALITY?

WHAT IS REALITY?

Reality is a buzz word these days in our world of reality television programs. But when I write about reality, I am referring to the truth about who we really are, and where we have come from. Many say today that truth is relative, and what they often mean by that is that truth is whatever you want it to be – or whatever you think it is. But that is not the kind of reality I’m talking about.

When Jesus Christ stood before the Roman governor Pilate, 2000 years ago in Jerusalem, he said, “I came into this world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Pilate’s response was “What is truth?” – as if to say that truth is unknowable. The irony of the situation was that the One who is the very essence of truth was standing right in front of him. And to this day, over two thousand years later, many are still trying to duck the truth by claiming that no one really knows what it is.

But truth is as plain as the nose on your face. All the while that much of society is claiming that truth doesn’t exist, they are living each day according to the very standards they are denying. We all agree about the standard of time, and set our watches regularly. The days of the week, month, and year (BC and AD) are written conveniently on our calendars. When we leave our homes in our cars, we abide by the traffic laws of our cities and states, or suffer the consequences. When we purchase food, clothing or whatever, we pay with the standard currency of the state or country we are in. When our children go to school, they are required to give the correct answers when taking examinations, but where do these answers come from, and what would happen if they just wrote down whatever they wanted?

It is obvious that there are many truths that people have come to depend upon to live their lives in the physical world. Even the harder to pin down truths about right and wrong have been hammered out and are the basis of our systems of law and order. But how do we know what is right and wrong? You could say that the answer to that question comes from the human conscience. But where did the conscience come from?

This is basically the same question that Pilate asked. We all know that truth exists, but sometimes we seem unsure of where it came from. Many of the agreed upon standards that we have were handed down to us from our ancestors, and they received them from the generations before them, all the way back to ………..

Creation. God is our Creator, and the Source of all truth, wisdom, knowledge and reality. God is eternal, so truth is eternal and has always existed. The Bible is our record of how God created heaven and earth, as well as our source book to the truth about all things. God also has providentially protected, preserved and watched over His Word for many centuries, even though many people have worked mightily to destroy it.

In chapter one of the book of Romans, the apostle Paul explains how God has so very clearly revealed Himself to all people through creation that we are all completely without excuse. “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things he has made.” But a great many people have suppressed this knowledge of God because of their desire to do evil. And not only have people suppressed their knowledge of God because of their unrighteousness, but Psalms 2 speaks of how “the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain—-the rulers of the earth take counsel together against the Lord?”

The reality of the matter is that human beings are at war with God in their hearts and desire to rid themselves of His sovereign power and control. Even though God blessed us with creation, and has even sent His Son to rescue us from our sin, the majority of mankind refuses to humble themselves before God and thank Him for His blessings. So, in the end, God will send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, back to the earth – to receive unto Himself all those who have accepted and believed in Christ, and to bring judgment on all those who have rejected God and His means for reconciliation to Him.

You may say that this is “my” reality, but not “yours.” But the Word of God proclaims that it is for “all” people. And indeed, as ridiculous as it sounds to me, the Scripture reveals that when Jesus returns on a white horse, in Revelation, chapter 19, that there will be a group gathered to make war against Him. But, on the other hand, those who are trusting in Christ for salvation will return with him, and will remain with Him – FOREVER!

Which group would you prefer to be in? The ones devoted to Christ, or those set against Him. You have your choice, today. But that choice is a limited-time-only offer. Reality is what it is. It is not whatever we might want it to be. And as far as I am concerned, that is a good thing. I am limited in my knowledge and power, but God isn’t. I would rather put my trust in Him. I have tried putting my trust in myself, and living by my own rules and reality. That has never worked out too well. But my life as a Christian has been much different. The peace of mind and joy that I have experienced through knowing Christ is well worth the sacrifices I have had to make. And the promises that the Scriptures offer for my future are much more than I could ever imagine.

So, my recommendation for all is very simple. I return to Romans 1, verse 16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel (the good news that Christ saves), for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes-“

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:20,21

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