Directions

Many people are contemplating the directions of the near future. Will this be a great awakening, a time of enlightenment? Will the economy recover? Will the fighting continue overseas?  We are so worried about tomorrow its ridiculous. Having listened to a sermon on Sunday on the topic of worrying; my mind took me in the opposite direction. But before analyzing the past lets look at whats going on in the here and now. People especially in America are becoming infatuated with themselves! Stupid shows like jersey shore and all the rest of it is portraying the most inflated egos possibly of all time. I mean that as a collective group of people. Furthermore, I read posts too often, proclaiming "we are gods!" How can we be humans and gods?

Anyways, back on topic. Lets go back.

I believe that what is happening is mankind is actually degenerating. A few things I've come to notice is how far the English language has deteriorated and how quickly. I recently completed the novel around the world in 80 days, the works of Jules Verne. I was so thankful that Kindle has a dictionary that allows you to click on a word and its definition comes up. It was unbelievable how many words I had to look up! Easily one every few paragraphs. Granted a few came up as being terms of the time (late 1800s) but still very surprising at how eloquently he wrote and with such a vast knowledge and understanding of the English language. My point is the writing styles and the vocabulary used is far more advanced then on a common level compared to todays standard.

With the advent of texting people have become much more efficient in communicating. Ah the ease of, I'll just send a text, "pls lemme no n e upd8, thnx!" Short and sweet, right? well I think its rotten. We are decaying rapidly. We all know what is this person is writing and what it means and I don't think that will change but for generations to come, I think, they will struggle with writing basic English. Sure there is spell-check and auto correct but do we need to depend on those crutches to communicate and should we be crippling following generations and retarding them with our lackadaisical approach to the privilege of literacy? Those who do have texting most likely have unlimited texts anyways so why not write in a proper form? Maybe even throw in a word of the day others may have to look up. Just my two cents on the topic.

Ok so huh?

What I believe is that we as humans are not progressing as many believe we are from the cave man days and I see language as a prime example of that; we are no longer going forward but drifting backward. I believe we are honestly drifting away, in the current of laziness, greed, convenience, instant-gratification fear and power. I believe that when man was created he was good, although he did have the knowledge of good and evil, he still had knowledge; Adam did walk with God in the garden.

God, throughout the Bible, destroys things: cities, towers, nearly all of man-kind. Jesus even wrecks shop at the temple, he also condemns a fig tree which withers and dies the following morning. Why though, why would they do these things? God saw that Soddom and Gammora were vile places, they worshipped false idols and practiced perverse acts; it was no longer good and God destroyed it. The tower, was built after   the flood and God promised that he would never flood the world again, yet they began to build a tower, one that would withstand a flood: God destroyed it and separated languages. People after such events which there are many of them that run the full spectrum, they responded to Gods actions. Many people were probably not too happy with God after the languages were split, the world had just endured a flood for 40 days! People, I believe began to distance themselves from God. Just as it was for Adam, after sin entered was he walking with God? nope.

Its catastrophes that have separated us from God as they are caused by us in my opinion. Yet, in all of them something good comes of it because God is in all things. From these catastrophes, people learn to adapt. There becomes a leveling of the playing field. In the movie the Sandlot, Smalls is the new kid to the neighborhood. He meets a group of boys who play baseball. He gets accepted although he cant throw simply because he makes 9, a full team. They teach him and they play other kids and Benny "the Jet" Rodriguez becomes a pro ball player who steals home. One of  the great movie classics. Well lets say that was not how the movie went. How about they had a full team, then because of the war 5 of them shipped out with there folks. Still wanting to play, they looked for anyone fill a spot on the field, even girls. :gasp: The level of play would be dismal, with all new players learning the game, practice would built around the basics rather than excelling talents. Would the Jet have gotten in the biggest pickle of his life? Probably not because his role in the movie would have changed. They never would have hit the homer, which would never have given them a reason to try to get it from the beast. But as the movie goes, they did and they find out its a nice beast who was owned by a former Yankee's player and team mate to the great bambino. Thus, the goodness of the catastrophe.

After the flood though, it seems as if people did not want to be on God's team anymore. They walked away, and settled else creating new games, and adapting. I am not saying baseball is the greatest game, Lacrosse is but the people created new gods, and found new players. With strength in numbers, like-minded people they have felt empowered that perhaps they found "the way" and challenge God and his team, the Jews and those who follow Jesus Christ. The opponents have been trying for hundreds if not thousands of years to beat God on his "home field" of Israel. Israel will never lose because God will never lose. Jesus will come and redeem.

I started out this article about directions and I do intend to finish it with this parable. We are a world driven; whether it be by money, power, fame, etc. the world is driven and God has blessed us with a map that shows every cross road on the path of the Jews from beginning to end. Many people dont look to the map and feel lost, or they find refuge in other ways others have gone yet go in a direction away from God. In essence they are driving backwards looking in the rear view mirror. The rear view mirror is so small compared to the front windshield. Nothing is quite as it seems in the mirror, things appear to be far off yet when driving backwards looking into the rear view they can come very soon. Only as things pass can do many people see them as they are unhindered by the limited perspective of the mirror. Thus, hine sight is always 20-20. The funny thing about the rear view mirror is that you are able to see yourself. The people who are driving this way are becoming more and more focused on themselves then even the road. The narcissism of our society and direction many are headed is to death. I ask you to sit down in your driver seat, adjust your mirrors for there purposes strap your seat belt on and follow Jesus. He will lead you back to God. Turns will not be fearful, objects will come as they appear to be coming, look to the map to guide you and when objects are in the road that you can so easily avoid and you think to yourself, "what was that?" check the rear view real quick and thank God for keeping you safe and alert and not hitting that bucket of paint you most likely would have hit had you been looking at yourself in the mirror or driving backwards, would have been a mess and could have done some damage, especially how you may have reacted to hitting it. Be at ease, go forward in life and be purposeful with God's plan.