Last year I watched the entire production series of a fascinating futuristic pseudo-science show called “Fringe.” It explored the theoretical concept of parallel universes. The main idea being that multiple universes exist, but in each one you potentially live a very different life that the one you live here and now in your present reality. It’s kind of out there, and challenging to think through, but weirdly entertaining at the same time.
During this time of craziness going on in our current reality, my wife and I discuss regularly how we feel caught up in a Fringe alternate universe. It seems literally everything going on today looks nothing like last year. Even this year, before the world plunged into fear over the China virus, in January and February things seemed so “normal.”
We’ve tried to stay busy, by reading, puzzling, and doing some projects around the house. We especially like White Mountain puzzles, with their whimsical themes. One particular puzzle comes to mind as I think about our alternate universe experience. It is called Wacky Packages. It’s as if someone took all the packaging of the products you and I grew up with, and in an alternate universe sort of way, turned them into a Fringe product. Just look closely at these labels and you’ll see what I mean.
So, here’s the thing. In what universe does a peaceful protest look like a third world war zone? Today it just seems to me we have moved outside of the “normal” into the realm of the “abnormal” with no clear direction on how to return. At what point in time did the term “Nationalist” (meaning patriotic and committed to American ideology) turn to mean “racist” (systemic racism)? Today’s cancel culture can take anything an individual says and in a Fringe moment turn it to mean something else. Then the cancel culture expects that person to apologize, and pay restitution and reparations, or else. Or else those who want to cancel you, me, and our way of life, will protest, riot, loot, and kill to prove just how wrong you and I are.
Maybe it’s just me. Perhaps I’ve taken too long to become “woke.” You know what the word means right? Type the word into BING and you’ll read this definition: “alert to injustice in society, especially racism.” Similarly GOOGLE gives you the exact same thing. But Merriam-Webster gives us clarity, saying, “Woke is a slang term that is easing into the mainstream from some varieties of a dialect called African American Vernacular English (sometimes called AAVE).” Well, no wonder it has taken me so long. I am definitely out of touch with AAVE.
I’ll tell you what I am in touch with. I have, for almost my whole life, relied on the continuation of truth derived by reading the Word of God. I know what it says in both a general and a specific way. For example, in a general way, without specifying a time, God’s word says that in the last days, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…” Matthew 24:12.
But God’s Word is also very specific at times. For example, very specifically the Bible says, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
You want to be woke? Fine. But if you want to WAKE UP… then turn to Jesus.
Jesus is the answer for the world today.
How do I know this? Because it seems our people are more concerned with 9,210 deaths from Covid -19 which actually occurred with no related other causes, than we are with the 60 MILLION abortions that have occurred in the United States of America since 1973. (click the link)
I would say “the love of most has grown cold…”
One last PROMISE from God’s word.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Call out to the ONE whose name you bear, humble yourself, pray, seek HIS face, turn from this wicked world, and hear Him speak your name today… and just possibly heal our country in the process.
As I was saying... 