Wednesday, September 21, 2011

no mirrors or smoke

Not long ago, our family sat viewing a 4-D film at Shedd Aquarium. Donning on 3-D glasses, we saw figures on the screen that seemed to leap out at us as if they were alive. Our faces were sprayed with water, our chairs shook, the air grew cold, and our backs were poked as we were led to believe we were about to be eaten by a killer whale.

The movie was a lot of fun, but in spite of many convincing special effects, we knew we had never left our seats. We could almost imagine what it was like to be there, without being literally transported to another place in the world where such adventure really happens.

We live in a world filled with virtual reality. From new 3-D televisions and video games, to reality TV, to forming profiles to display to others on the internet, much of our day is spent in a world that borders on but never completely transports us to reality.
I'm so thankful that for Jesus' followers, things were different.

"After (Jesus') suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3

There were no special effects involved here. With their own eyes, the disciples saw and touched the tangible body of Jesus. They heard His actual voice, and observed undeniable proofs like watching Him eat. Over a period of 40 days, their senses took in the physical and spiritual reality that Jesus had risen in bodily form. As amazing and far-fetched as that seemed, it was all real.

I wonder if today, many lives are being lived with a sense of virtual reality. In such cases, life is robbed of meaning, and there is a sense of existence without purpose.

In the case of Jesus' followers, nothing is more real than His resurrection, or the promise He gave to return again for His own. He is our reality; living and acting on such knowledge of Him is the greatest adventure we will ever experience.

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