Glorifying Christ One Blog at a Time
Paradise Now!
We humans love short cuts don’t we? We want what we cannot have and we want it now! We’re never content, we always want more, and we’re extremely self-centered. So it was only a matter of time before someone would come up with a shortcut for life. In this world of computers, is it any surprise that we can now have the life of our dreams? Our own paradise if you will?
The devil hasn’t really changed his strategy much in the many years we’ve been on this earth. He doesn’t have to. His strategy works really well..anything but God’s way. Through the media he tells us we must look this way, talk like this and do things a certain way in order to be accepted. It causes us to focus on ourselves. He keeps us focused on ourselves by feeding into our egos. Give the people what they want, and they will forget about God, they will forget about life in general, they will forget about each other.
It is, after all, the century of self.
and
The battlefield is... the mind.
The epitome of this is Second Life, a new virtual game. There are 2.5 million registered users to date. According to the site, Second life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its residents, where you’ll discover a fast-growing digital world filled with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. It is a chance at a second life. Fifth Estate covered two women who became addicted to this game because it offered so much more than their real lives. I mean, who wants to do laundry, cook, clean and look after others day after day (tongue in cheek)? The one woman, married with four children, left her family to meet her virtual partner in England. The second woman of two is divorced. She believes her virtual lover is her soul mate, and is looking for him in real life.
The game offers new life in a virtual setting. In this virtual world you can look like you’ve always wanted to look; be anyone you want to be; have anything and do anything you want. You create an avatar of yourself and create your own paradise. There are no rules, no limits. It is a world that stimulates your mind. Though their basic plan is free, their premium plan can be accessed for as little as $6 a week. Then there’s land purchase and land maintenance, if you so desire (plus tax of course). You could go broke. The fantasy turns into a reality in your mind, holding you captive to it. Though you feel like you’re living in paradise, your very “real” bills are piling up from neglect, along with your housework, your marriage, and your life.
Oh, you mean there’s a cost?
There is actually a website dedicated to people who have a loved one who is addicted to gaming. It boasts 4000 members, and goes by the name Gamerwidow.com. When you check out this site, you realize that Second Life is just one game that is of concern. There are many others.
So why am I telling you this? God created humanity for fellowship. By nature, we seek it out on many levels...social organizations, sports, hobbies, politics, and even virtual games. But the greatest form of fellowship, and the one we all need, is a relationship with God which also holds the promise of eternal life. There is no shortcut to this kind of paradise.
I’ve always seen our lives on this earth as a type of schooling. This is the place we learn and grow to be all that God has created us to be. We become fools when we allow the devil to transport us into his virtual form of life...which is merely darkness masquerading as paradise.
John 1:4,5
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The devil hasn’t really changed his strategy much in the many years we’ve been on this earth. He doesn’t have to. His strategy works really well..anything but God’s way. Through the media he tells us we must look this way, talk like this and do things a certain way in order to be accepted. It causes us to focus on ourselves. He keeps us focused on ourselves by feeding into our egos. Give the people what they want, and they will forget about God, they will forget about life in general, they will forget about each other.
It is, after all, the century of self.
and
The battlefield is... the mind.
The epitome of this is Second Life, a new virtual game. There are 2.5 million registered users to date. According to the site, Second life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its residents, where you’ll discover a fast-growing digital world filled with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. It is a chance at a second life. Fifth Estate covered two women who became addicted to this game because it offered so much more than their real lives. I mean, who wants to do laundry, cook, clean and look after others day after day (tongue in cheek)? The one woman, married with four children, left her family to meet her virtual partner in England. The second woman of two is divorced. She believes her virtual lover is her soul mate, and is looking for him in real life.
The game offers new life in a virtual setting. In this virtual world you can look like you’ve always wanted to look; be anyone you want to be; have anything and do anything you want. You create an avatar of yourself and create your own paradise. There are no rules, no limits. It is a world that stimulates your mind. Though their basic plan is free, their premium plan can be accessed for as little as $6 a week. Then there’s land purchase and land maintenance, if you so desire (plus tax of course). You could go broke. The fantasy turns into a reality in your mind, holding you captive to it. Though you feel like you’re living in paradise, your very “real” bills are piling up from neglect, along with your housework, your marriage, and your life.
Oh, you mean there’s a cost?
There is actually a website dedicated to people who have a loved one who is addicted to gaming. It boasts 4000 members, and goes by the name Gamerwidow.com. When you check out this site, you realize that Second Life is just one game that is of concern. There are many others.
So why am I telling you this? God created humanity for fellowship. By nature, we seek it out on many levels...social organizations, sports, hobbies, politics, and even virtual games. But the greatest form of fellowship, and the one we all need, is a relationship with God which also holds the promise of eternal life. There is no shortcut to this kind of paradise.
I’ve always seen our lives on this earth as a type of schooling. This is the place we learn and grow to be all that God has created us to be. We become fools when we allow the devil to transport us into his virtual form of life...which is merely darkness masquerading as paradise.
John 1:4,5
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Comment
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Comment by Jon Montes on August 13, 2009 at 2:35am - In true intimacy with The Father,He reveals our unrighteousness in his Holiness. In revealing our shortcomings, if we humble ourselves and take on His fruit, we become more like Him as He has called us to be. I find out when I do this He reveals Himself to me and He lets me know He loves me.
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Comment by Maureen Olafsen on August 12, 2009 at 2:47am - Enjoyed your blog post Carmen.....doesn't it all come down to intimacy....people fear intimacy in real life and so they look for it in other ways.....True intimacy in marriage is a type and shadow of how our intimacy with the Father and Jesus should be. The enemy subverts these God given feelings...like you say, instant gratification NOW!
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Comment by Jon Montes on August 11, 2009 at 5:12am
- Having Fellowship with the Creator, is in all of us, who are His, yes, we need each other. We need to come out our caves of fake facade and find out who He is in all of us, (relationship). We need to shine in the darkness of this World, where there is no light, except the Light of the World. Jesus.
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