Cave Mentality-"The Reality of Shadows"

First impressions are extremely powerful and, more often than we might admit, are perceived as reality. In fact they are merely a shadow of the truth. A shadow on the wall may give you a pretty good outline of a person's face, but it is certainly not an accurate description. A shadow can be very misleading. What we might perceive as a dog, could in reality be a child's fingers twisted in front of light.

You know the story of "Plato's Cave". Prisoners from birth are chained in front of a cave wall and see nothing but shadows cast on the wall as their guards walk between them and the fire. The shadows are all they know. Someone telling them what exists outside the cave is considered dangerous because he threatens their concept of reality. It reads, "---And if they were somehow able to get their hands on and kill the man who attempts to release and lead up, wouldn't they kill him?"

Reminds me of the verse in Scripture, "Men loved darkness better than light-."

There is a spiritual "reality". God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, heaven, hell, angels and devils. Don't be surprised if those living in darkness have a tough time listening to you.

In the film "Fatal Attraction" Dan's first impressions of Alex were tantalizing. He got more than he bargained for. A huge difference between the "shadow" of an attractive colleague and the psychopath who kidnapped his child and tried to murder his wife. See my blog, "Fatal Attraction, Garlic Girls, Delilah and HIV" July 5 at http://2knowthetruth.blogspot.com

Our first impressions need to be taken for what they are, a mere shadow. Don't fight the truth, get out of the cave and into the sunlight and experience a real dose of reality.

Black Light

Went on a vacation last year - stayed in good motel/hotels, not the Hilton, but not the bottom of the heap either. I've always asked to see the room before we pay. Turn on the lights, pull back the covers and sheets (always all the way to the the foot of the bed after having wiggled my bare toes on some body's dirty sock in the middle of the night a few years ago). Also poke around a bit in the bathroom. Seldom find anything worth mentioning but do it as a precaution.

A few months ago I related my routine to a friend who told me I really wasn't seeing things in the proper light. If I would get a "black light", an ultra violet flashlight, I would see things a lot differently and might be surprised. He told me that I was "seeing" but really not "seeing". I reluctantly bought a UV flashlight before my last trip - I could always use it to check around the house for scorpions.

It was late when we arrived at the hotel. As usual, I asked to look before paying and was given the door code. We turned on the lights and poked around as we always do. Looked OK to me. Then I pulled out the UV Flashlight, turned out the lights and just about puked. Everywhere you could imagine were splashes and splotches of florescent green - everywhere! On the bedspread, walls, floor, all around the toilet and sink. It was enough to gag a maggot. This was a "nice" 3-4 star place. We slept in the car that night - couldn't even think about looking at another room.

I'm reminded of the words of Jesus,"Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?" Mk. 8:18

Are you seeing but not really seeing? Try looking at things in a little different light - you may be surprised! It may even be a life changing experience - I'll never sleep in a motel again!!

Wilderness Communion

C. H. Spurgeon

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July 18
Wilderness Communion

I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. (Hosea 2:14)
The goodness of God sees us allured by sin, and it resolves to try upon us the more powerful allurements of love. Do we not remember when the Lover of our souls first cast a spell upon us and charmed us away from the fascinations of the world! He will do this again and again whenever He sees us likely to be ensnared by evil.

He promises to draw us apart, for there He can best deal with us, and this separated place is not to be a paradise, but a wilderness, since in such a place there will be nothing to take of our attention from our God. In the deserts of affliction the presence of the Lord becomes everything to us, and we prize His company beyond any value which we set upon it when we sat under our own vine and fig tree in the society of our fellows. Solitude and affliction bring more to themselves and to their heavenly Father than any other means.

When thus allured and secluded the Lord has choice things to say to us for our comfort. He "speaks to our heart," as the original has it. Oh, that at this we may have this promise explained in our experience! Allured by love, separated by trial, and comforted by the Spirit of truth, may we know the Lord and sing for joy!

From "Faith's Checkbook - C.H. Spurgeon

NO FEAR ? - FEAR GOD!

I saw these words on a bumper sticker the other day. According to some, the idea, "FEAR GOD", is not only old fashioned but landed in the dust bin of history years ago. However, let me remind you that the phrase is found throughout the Bible, both OT and NT. (check it out) It's not only good advice it is a command to be obeyed.

The saved standing before the throne of God sing,
"Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the Ages.
Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?"
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."
Rev. 15:3,4

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools ------." Prov. 1:7

Now, "fear of the Lord" includes the concept of reverence, another word that we seldom hear today. God is referred to as "the old man" or "the man upstairs". The prophets fell on their faces when they "sensed" His presence. Today, men pick their nose while they say they're having a buddy-buddy chat with God (I doubt they even know what it is to come into His presence). I read of a man who said Jesus appeared to Him while he was shaving. He continued to shave and they enjoyed a nice little chat together. If the real Jesus appeared he, like the Apostle John, would fall flat on his face in reverential fear. Rev. 1:17

The latest obnoxious, irreverent, ungodly and foolish thing I have come across which demonstrates this lack of reverential fear is a referral to Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world, as Jesus - "the toxic waste dump of the universe". That's not cute or creative - it's a sick reminder of how far we have departed from "THE FEAR OF THE LORD".

I'm Wrong - You're Right

We live in a curious age. I am a "black and white" sort of guy. It seems to me that there use to be a lot of "white" and a lot of "black" and a little bit of gray or grey in the middle. Today, as I look around, I wonder if, in the minds of many, there is any "white" and "black" or if everything now is grey.

Francis Schaeffer wrote this about 35 years ago. I think he addressed it to intellectuals but since then this kind of thinking has become commonplace.

“------ we should note this curious mark of our own age: the only absolute allowed is the absolute insistence that there is no absolute."


Now, when there is a difference, either:

I am wrong and you are right,
or
You are wrong and I am right,
or
We are both wrong,
but
We cannot both be right. (unless reason has died)

The Commercialized Mindset

John Piper, in his little book, "Jesus - The Only Way to God" spells one of the most dangerous corruptions of basic Christian beliefs which we are experiencing in American society. His introduction includes the idea of a "Commercialized Mindset". If people are not "buying" what we are presenting to them, we get the feeling that there must be something wrong with our "product" (message). Eventually, we "redefine" the truth so that it becomes more palatable. Example: If maintaining that Jesus is the only way to heaven becomes offensive, the "commercial mindset" will modify the message to something like, "Jesus is in some way or another the way to heaven even if you've never heard of Him." Or else just not make an issue about it anymore and quit talking about it.

There IS such a thing as "the offence of the cross." (Gal. 5:11 NIV) If the truth is offensive to some - then let it be. Who are we trying to please, anyway?

Blood Diamonds and Blood Gold

In the last few years a new expression has been added to our language - BLOOD DIAMONDS. A film and a TV Documentary by that name was produced in 2006.

"In relation to diamond trading, blood diamond (also called a converted diamond, conflict diamond, hot diamond, or a war diamond) refers to a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity, usually in Africa." (wikopedia)

Now, there is also something called BLOOD GOLD. The gold we enjoy in our jewelry was produced at great cost which is reflected in the price - today $1209 per ounce.

BLOOD GOLD is made available for our enjoyment and security not by intensive labor but by blood, sweat, tears and death. The blood, sweat tears and death of our Lord Jesus Christ which purchased our redemption. He said, "I go to prepare a place for you --." And the streets of that city are paved with gold. BLOOD GOLD