It’s odd to realize we no longer live in a world where we can easily recognize what’s real and what isn’t. Half-truths abound. Fake news is accepted as fact. Facts are distorted and everything seems to need to be verified before you know whether you should believe it. Since you can’t check every camera angle or every social media post, you have to look for things that are always true, things that nobody can misrepresent or distort. For me, that’s a matter of faith and I choose to put my faith in God.
1 John 5:14-15 says, “My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in His presence, freely asking according to His will, sure that He’s listening.”
So, the Gospel writer wanted to be sure believers were clear about eternal life. He didn’t want them to puzzle over, figure out, manipulate, or otherwise try to imagine whether God is a reality. He wanted them to know eternal truths beyond the shadow of a doubt. Why is that important?
No matter who you are, or where you live, or what you do for a living, God is with you! He hears your prayers and you know this is true by experience. You have had incredible answers to prayer when you least expected them. You have had intuition that protected you from harm. You have felt a peace you couldn’t explain when you were going through a crisis. You know what you know. You are not alone and the One who knows you and loves you more than you even realize, is always there for you.
As you look at how rapidly everything changes, how temporary everything is, it’s helpful to grasp your eternal reality. This truth sets you free from the tweeters and the media gurus who crave your attention. They can only exist if you give them life. That’s a choice you can make any time. With God though, the truth is this. You can only exist for eternity if He gives you life. That’s a choice you only have to make once because the Son sets you free forever.
Enjoy a little virtual reality now and then, but don’t live there. God has so much more for you today.