life

Something to ponder

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When he says, “I will catch you!”, your eyebrows go up as you realize there’s an entire domain hidden from these little fellows. “Sorry. My responses are limited. You must ask the right questions.” The deceitfulness of human nature (Jeremiah 17:9) is something pure logic and common sense will never be able to grasp. And guess what’s even more frightening! That some day there’s a machine that will figure it out and deliberately use this ability to plot something against man.

The film “I, Robot” has a scene at the end where Sonny the robot blinks it’s eye indicating a double thought had been conceived in its circuits. You say one thing, but do the other. Well, the deceivers and politicians do that without blinking the eye. By the way, such behavior is characteristic to grown-ups but unknown to little children who, as we know, are very sincere and straightforward in their pursuits. Therefore, we can see that man develops this feature in the process of time. Does it mean that he acquires it on the go? I doubt. More likely, it sits there deep within since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. And when a toddler grows up and becomes self-conscious and gives in to ambition (discerning good and evil) his sinful nature is revealed. What is the cure then? Are we in the position to change our own nature? If we could, it would be jumping over our own shadow. We cannot do it. But there is a way! This wickedness inside our being must be crucified and put to death through Christ, the Second Adam. It is the Redemption of man by God, not from ourselves.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Kuidas võita Lohet, seda muistset madu?

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Suur lohe heideti välja, see muistne madu, keda hüütakse Kuradiks ja Saatanaks, kes eksitab kogu ilmamaad – ta heideti maa peale ja tema inglid heideti koos temaga. – Ilm 12:9

Muistendis haarab vägilane mõõga ja raiub lohe pea maha, kuid selle asemele kasvab kohe uus ja veelgi kurjem. Tegelikult lausa kaks.

Kõik on kuulnud Araabi kevadest – rahva rahutused kogu araabiamaal ja Lähis-Idas, eksole, diktaatorliku võimu kukutamine jne. Seda peetakse nende rahvaste valgustuse ja orjaunest virgumise ilminguks ning see on toimumas kõikjal selles piirkonnas ümberkaudu. Rahvas tõuseb üles.

Muammar Gaddafi oli Liibüa diktaator 40 aastat, kuni ta 2011. a. Lääne osavõtul kukutati. Teda ei saa kuidagi õilistada, ta oli rõhuja, diktaator ja türann, nagu mõnest Vana Testamendi loost kopipeistitud rahvast anastav kuningas, kuid … Nüüd tema ära olles on Liibüast saanud pagulaste koridor Euroopasse, seal puudub igasugune kord ja rahu, valitseb anarhia. Maa on tükeldatud ja langenud mässuliste ja ISIS-e kätte.

Hosni Mubarak oli Egiptuse diktaator 30 aastat, kuni ta 2011. a. Lääne osavõtul kukutati. Sama jutt. Tema järel tõusis võimule sunni islami organisatsioon nimega Moslemi Vennaskond. Kunagine lemmik kuurortpaik on muutunud üsna tuliseks ja ettearvamatuks, üsnagi ohtlikuks paigaks. Egiptusest startinud vene turistide lennukisse paigaldas pommi ISIS, et “ristisõdalased” taevast alla lasta.

Saddam Hussein oli Iraagi president u. 25 aastat, kuni ta 2003. a. Lääne osavõtul kukutati. Oh imet. Nüüd on Iraagist saanud anarhistliku ISIS-e üks peamisi tugipunkte.

Araabia Kevadega algasid rahutused ka Jeemenis. Vanad “sõbrad” on Afganistaan, kus on sõdinud nii Venemaa kui Lääs, ja Pakistan. Süüriast koos oma auklikuks lastud linnade ja sõjapõgenikega ma üldse ei räägigi. Bashar al-Assad on olnud Süüria president 2000. a. alates. Lääs tahab teda kukutada. Süüria valitsuse kontrollida on hetkel ca 30-40% Süüria territooriumist. Ülejäänu on terrorikülvaja ISIS-e ja teiste mässuliste käes.

Kuigi nende riikide valitsejad olid meie mõistes totaalsed diktaatorid, siis rahvas oli nende valitsuse all ometi halvimast hoitud ning riigis valitses suhteline kord ja rahu. See ei olnud demokraatia, kuid see oli ometi julgeolek! Rahvas küll ägas nende valitsejate käes, kuid nad ehitasid oma kodusid ja pered kasvasid. Pärast diktaatorite kukutamist on aga tulnud kujuteldamatu häda ja viletsus. Neile tuttav anastav režiim, mille all nad kannatasid, kuid siis võõraste mahitusel ja relvaabiga kukutasid, asendus uue režiimiga, mida nad ei osanud oma halvimas unenäoski ette näha. Surma külvatakse taevast ja see käib tänavatel. Laibad on hunnikutes. Kord on asendunud kaosega ja valitseb õud.

Nüüd ründab ISIS Euroopat. Brüssel ja Pariis, Euroopa süda, on halvatud ja terrorioht püsib väga kõrge. Tänavatel on sõjaväelased. Koolide ümbruses patrullivad sõdurid. Inimestel soovitatakse kodus püsida. Palju uusi rünnakuid on suudetud küll ära hoida, kuid see ei tee olukorda kellegi jaoks grammigi turvalisemaks. Lohe kosub ja jääb siia pikemaks ajaks.

 

Fast Food Generation

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“What goes in, the same comes out.”

Healthy diet is good for body and grandma’s home-cooked meal is good for soul, wouldn’t you agree? This post, however, goes beyond body and past soul. It’s actually not so much about food as it is about life. Again. Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.

* * * * *

Lots of people, the young in particular, go for fast food nowadays. Whether it’s fast food from a fast food restaurant or it’s fast food in the sense that it’s a ready-made type of meal from the supermarket that takes five minutes to remove package and heat up the contents in your microwave, it’s fast food nevertheless. The only food worse than fast food is junk food, you know, the enticing array of potato chips and other shiny packages on endless shelves in most every food store today. Our children consume those daily in ever increasing quantities 1*. The good old home-cooked meal no longer seems to satisfy as it involves too much sweating over the hot stove and there’s simply not enough time left from self-realization through friends, hobbies, sports, music, social networking, youtube, TV, etc. An ordered pizza or some other ultra fast microwave food is the easy way out. The skills of cooking a meal from raw ingredients, the natural stuff,  seem to be vanishing before our very eyes with the shift of generations. The young have almost completely ceased to eat real food, at least so it seems. While it’s true in the literal sense, my real concern, however, is man’s true spiritual food (Matthew 5:6).

I’m proposing that very often what applies to our choices regarding physical food may pretty well reveal our spiritual inclinations. In other words, “you are what you eat” vice versa. Namely, “you eat what you are”. You select what is good for you based on your personal pereferences, i.e. based on the type of person you are, in agreement with your convictions and values. Not only does it apply to what we eat or think of eating as such, but more prominently to the very ingredients of life itself; the things that really matter in life (Luke 12:22-23). And in this we see a growing trend. The young just don’t seem to care as much anymore and their daily bread (or the lack of it) is but a proof of that. Life keeps spinning up and it doesn’t matter what you eat as long as it’s fast, tastes good and you’re full in an instant; the same way it looks as if it doesn’t matter anymore how you live your life as long as it makes you feel happy here and now and you’re successful. Not too many people ponder the core values of life these days. The success-driven society will tell you at all costs it’s necessary to get what your heart desires (Jr 17:9) and not to worry about the way to make it happen. And most importantly, do it fast! After all, you only live once, right? Live like there’s no tomorrow, right? The more eloquent a manipulator you are, the better, right? If this is your “gift”, you’ve got to use it, right? NO! It’s a massive lie. 2*

It’s evident people nowadays aren’t as much interested in the profound knowledge of the mechanics of how stuff works, as they are in just-tell-me-which-buttons-I’m-supposed-to-press kind of “knowledge” to jump to the desired end result quickly and without any personal involvement whatsoever. 3* In other words, nobody wants to know what’s under the hood, as long as you give them 3-5 most primitive steps to keep the thing going. Products and tools need to be designed fool proof for the hands of dumb users (but they’re OK to fall apart under normal working conditions). And really, who needs skills when money can buy everything? In everything people are becoming ‘end users’ and consumers. Detached. Dumb. Deceived. This manmade 3D false reality translates well back into the spiritual realm to reveal man’s inner corruption and separation from the divine truth. What we see reflect in the physical on the outside, actually originates from the spiritual on the inside and thus the outer neglect of even the basic school knowledge accompanied by mindless consumption of commercialism is a physical manifestation of man’s inner separation from true wisdom and running amok in useless hope to fill the void. Man turns astray from diligently seeking the truth of his Maker from his heart. Instead, the heathen rage and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord (Psalms 2:1-4). They defile themselves with whatever they come across on the way while still desperate for the real thing. This will happen when you turn off wisdom and are left with stupidity. So, they try to invent manmade shortcuts into the Father’s bosom without personally getting to know the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). Then man will get all philosophical and try to define life as we know it. But guess what! We’re unable to know it apart from the Creator of life and what we think we know based on our science is utter foolishness (1 Cor 1:19-20). If you allow me the comparison, we’re as smart compared to the Maker as our smart phones are compared to us. Would you honestly expect your smart phone to awaken, come to self-realization and deny your very existence? Will it be able to repair or modify itself? Who do you think it would call and what would you, the owner, think of that? If it will suddenly stop responding to you, would you not try to get it fixed or throw the malfunctioning nuisance away before it starts sending you bills? … The fallen man has cost dearly to God; nothing less than the very life of the Son of God. (John 3:16, 1 Cor 6:20)

The trending mentality of shallowness in most aspects of life is but another way among many how the enemy of the soul is blocking the passage unto finding true wisdom, which is Christ (Colossians 2:3). Man no longer knows where to turn for wisdom, no longer cares. He invents his own – the dung (Philippians 3:8). The kind of people who throughout times have diligently sought to extract the gold grains of true wisdom out of the ore of life at the cost of losing everything else in this life are gradually being replaced with the generation of spiritual gamblers who keep stuffing the spiritual slot machines of the devil in hope to hit the jackpot of life by happen chance, as if there was a lucky combination to unlock the gates of heaven, or a cheat they could use against God. Such a mind frame sure helps to keep the personal Communion with the true living bread from heaven – the Word of God – down to being nonexistent and the way of wisdom will forever be unfound.

The world is a supermarket and everything earthly in here has a price tag. Wouldn’t it be nice to purchase the eternal life voucher just by paying a reasonable price for it at the cash desk of any grocery, kind of like an occasional lottery ticket people throw in together with their weekly ready-made frozen food supply? Kind of like,

“Let’s see, here’s my microwave pizza for tonight, a 5-minute mashed potato with weenies and tomato sauce for the next day, some strawberry flavored jelly powder dessert with some whipped cream right from the can, instant coffee 3in1, a six-pack of light beer, lottery tickets (in case I get lucky), chewing gum, cough pills (in case I catch a cold), a dozen other things, and, oh, almost forgot, the a … what’s it called … “Guide to Heaven” with a free monthly subscription of online maps (in case I die), some more beer …” 

This way you could, among other things you consume, actually fit the eternal God into your shopping cart real nice! But that’s not how it works and it shouldn’t be surprising considered that the eternal life is all about knowing Him (John 17:3).

“Oh yeah, but don’t say! There are many good and really wonderful websites that teach about faith and stuff, daily devotionals to give you guidelines to the spiritual world! I’ve been really blessed by those and spend fifteen minutes each day to keep me on the good course in life.”

True that. There are lots of them on the internet, also some very good books that lead you to a personal relationship with God. In fact, I could recommend some.
BUT! Fifteen minutes?! Fast food. How does man expect to know God in heaven based on the knowledge of God by some guy he doesn’t know? It’s going to take more than a mere daily devotional message of faith by other guys. Do not be deceived! They may be the real thing for them who, having spent a lifetime seeking Him, personally know the Lord, but for you they are only good for deceiving you into a false impression of redeeming yourself a bargain ticket to heaven, UNLESS you know the Lord personally, UNLESS you go deep seeking Him, UNLESS you’re willing to give up everything else on the way to find Him (Matthew 13:44-46). And for that kind of growth you need true spiritual wisdom (Colossians 2:2-3), no junk food (Colossians 2:8). You need to know the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). And don’t for a second think that you choose to know Him! He chooses you to be known by you! (John 15:16) The same way you don’t redeem your ticket to the eternal life, but are redeemed by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. It’s a gift. If you’re willing to walk that way (Matthew 7:14).

And finally, not many boys and girls have home-baked bread and fish, which they caught from the lake in the morning, on their diet nowadays (John 6:9). The commercialized spiritual fast food is everywhere around us! With its shining labels it looks appealing on the shelves and makes the truth of the eternal God become increasingly more difficult to find. As things progress, the times of confusion and overall spiritual darkness lie ahead. So much genetically modified deception is around, nicely wrapped, seasoned with stabilizers, poisoned with preservatives and flavor enhancers. Even a good ready-made devotional once a day, nutritious as it may be, is in no way going to fuel a Christian for a prolonged ride through the dark valley of everyday life. The fast food places, although seemingly saving the day for the moment, eventually take their toll as they’re no match for a fine home-cooked meal, which is carefully prepared in the intimacy of your home. You’ve got to take time to prepare it, seek out the ingredients, be diligent, season it with salt (Leviticus 2:13). And then when you eat it with your family at your supper table, breaking the bread, that’s Communion.

* * * * *

1* And who can blame them? While we should have tried to do everything in our power to get our kids out of harm’s way, that junk food along with other modern time traps for kids (violent computer games, sexually explicit content on TV, etc.) is there and waiting to be devoured by our children only because we, the grown-ups, have utterly failed to care enough not to let that happen. That is exactly the type of the world we hand over to them and they have no choice but to accept it and are likely to take it a step further. As the saying goes, our children will take to excess whatever we allow in moderation.

2* The system is so completely caught up in the lie, ungodly man has no goal left in life but to be his own master, serve his own ambition and meet his own needs. If your need is the only thing that ever drives you, then you’ve become a slave of your own great ego, haven’t you? We bring up our children teaching them they need to strive towards self-realization, to stop idling, to push their limits! And that’s good because idle hands are the devil’s tools. Look at the young today. We want them to become decent citizens, don’t we? Most of the under-age of the civilized west have it all taken care of, there are no duties, no responsibilities. What could possibly go wrong?! Nothing, except themselves! Just a handful of them really put some effort in their studies at school or training in sports.  While they have all the time in the world at their disposal to spend on self-realization, the bigger half of them goes spoilt. They don’t know how to cook, how to clean after themselves, how to run their lives. We teach them to be dependent on the system to reproduce the flaw. Quietly and steadily they turn into the mob, to be ruled over by the powerful of this world, the highly educated manipulators and greedy self-seekers who are even worse in the evil of their heart. But guess what! Man is not called to self-realization in the first place, man is called to self-expenditure. How about pushing your limits to give up your right to your own life in serving your neighbor? … That, my friend, is absolutely, completely, definitively a different ball game never to be understood by the spirit of the world (1 Cor 2:14).

3* For instance, in many computer games the extra power and goodies you get just by typing in a code and not  achieving them by successful application of the game rules are called ‘cheats‘. And that’s what they are, pre-programmed ways to manipulate the system, shortcuts to score high by cheat.

Hingedepäeva järelhüüd

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Me oleme teelised,

inimhinged ajalikul rännakul,

teel igaviku poole.

Kuniks meil on päevi maises telgis, peame leidma taevatee,

Lunastuse ahtakese teeraja.

Inimesel on lootust, kuni hing tal sees.

Vangistatuna ajalikku, on hing siiski vaba valima head või kurja.

Kui maine telk langeb põrmu, tõuseb inimhing ja sulgub igavikku viiv uks ta taga.

“Sest mis kasu on inimesel sellest, kui ta võidaks terve maailma, aga teeks kahju oma hingele?”

“Kui õel inimene sureb, siis ta lootus hävib …”

“… sest me kõik peame saama avalikuks Kristuse kohtujärje ees, et igaüks saaks kätte, mida ta ihus olles on teinud, olgu head või halba.”

Mk 8:36, Õp 11:7, 2Kr 5:10

Eternal Life (Christmas Special)

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It’s noteworthy that as a photographer I hardly ever have to set my lens to focus on infinity. But as a man, infinity should be my default objective at all times.

The following is a stretch of mind with a single intent; one that will be found near the end part of this article. You could say it’s a Christmas message. Sort of. Even though I admit, in quite an unconventional form. Just the way you might need it.

* * *

Infinity of time is called eternity.

Infinity of space is when you travel at the speed of light in one direction for an eternity, but end up no closer to the boundary of space than when you first began the journey.

Right.

No. The above statement has two obvious flaws in it. First, it’s impossible to end up in terms of eternity as it has no end (infinite duration). Secondly, there’s no boundary in the concept of infinity to get closer to. The word infinity comes from the Latin infinitas or ‘unboundedness’.

Thus, infinity is greater than our human perception, and so is eternity. In fact, it’s because we humans are earthly and the world we live in is finite and temporal. So we have our limitations. The world’s been designed with certain binding properties and each one of those limits us in a particular way. Among others, we’re bound by time and space.

The whole known temporal material universe (having mass) is governed by and runs as a clockwork according to the law of gravity and the same is what binds us to the earth – our designated place of existence. If we were to escape the planet, we’d only be able to get as far as the amount of accumulated energy (rocket fuel) could take us … and then slowly drift no further.

The same way your room has three measures (length, width and height) we are confined within the 3-dimensional universe. How come? Mathematically there can be spaces with any number of dimensions and the theoretical formulas work just fine in defining 3D space as well as 4D, 6D and why not nD space (in maths n represents any number from -∞ to ∞). It’s just that we have a hard time trying to imagine those. However, we’re perfectly able to understand 2D (a sheet of paper, computer screen) or even 1D (a straight line, wire, cable). By adding lines one next to another we then form a 2D environment out of 1D. And by stacking sheets of paper on top of each other the 3D space will be formed out of 2D. That’s a no-brainer.

The difference is in complexity. The more dimensions, the more options. An idealistic view of a 1D environment suggests that a spider on a washing line can only move back and forth along the line. In theory, two spiders wouldn’t be able to go past one another on a washing line because it would take stepping aside for one of them, i.e. using the second dimension which is not available in 1D environment. Pretty limited world, huh? How about 2D? Actually, it’s rather common in everyday life, is it not? Say, you drive your car. You can go forward or backward, left or right. But what you can’t do is levitate above the ground and jump over all the other cars because using the 3rd dimension would be in violation of the traffic law and cars are not designed to move that way.  The extra dimension would grant you a whole new set of options and take the existence to an entirely new level of complexity.

Infinity can’t be measured because it has no end. If you think further and try to remove the (binding) property of spacial measure altogether, you might get the infinity the way God is, i.e. omnipresent, not confined nor limited by space.

We’re able to observe and understand what’s happening on the 2D computer screen by means of the third dimension that we use to interact with it. Whereas, the virtual creatures “living” in that screen would have absolutely no idea that there’s someone watching in close proximity and being able to monitor their every thought and action. They just don’t have the necessary dimension to make that connection. This is the advantage of 3D over 2D. Now, considering the earlier stated fact that theoretically there can be spaces/environments with any number of dimensions, how about the possibility that somebody [read: God] in the 4D, 6D or nD is monitoring your every thought and action in our temporal 3D world the same way you’re keeping an eye on the virtual realm of your 2D computer screen or a flat TV? I think it’s happening right now.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Matthew 10:30)

And guess what. We’re accountable.

For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
[*1 More on this …]

We live in a temporal world. We are born and then we die. The temporal world itself also has a beginning and an end. Let’s illustrate. Have you ever seen a sound graph of a song on a computer screen? It looks something like this:

From left to right you have the progression of time, i.e. the way time “flows” in the timeline. The single vertical dimension represents the volume or the amplitude of the sound signal at any given point in time. Therefore, this graph represents the course of a 1D system through time. (Now, although it may look like a 2-dimensional graph, we have to exclude the horizontal scale from the count of dimensions here to get the right perspective because it represents the progression of time and is not a spatial measure.) [*2 More on this …]

It’s easy to distinguish the different phases of the sound sequence by just looking at the graph. At first there are a number of pulses, then after a period of silence there will be a fairly steady continuous sound and there’s going to be quite a loud crack near the end. And note that there is a beginning and an end.

A 2D sound graph would look something like this:

What’s been added here is the depth of field, i.e. the extra dimension which allows us to add an infinite number of different sound sources (musical instruments) to this graph and monitor each one of them separately. In a similar way our 3D universe takes its course through time and each person leaves a signature behind for the “songwriter” to monitor.
[*3 More on this …]

Eternity is infinite time. Remove the property of time altogether and you might get timelessness, i.e. eternity the way God exists – was, is and will be, always, at all times, simultaneously. God is not limited by the flow of time. He created it! He’s the “music master”. He has the entire creation in front of Him the whole time just as you are looking at the entire scope of the above sound graph. By looking at the graph you know when and how the song is going to end before it gets there. God’s prophetic word in the Bible is not mere speculation of the things that will happen but stating the situation as it is (will be for us when we reach that point in our timeline) from the beginning to the end. The Bible is clear that someday this cosmic song will be over. So, tune in before the last accord is played.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein will be burned up … Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:10,13)
[*4 More on this …]

Is it possible for a human being to break out from our temporal material 3D domain and move on to a higher plane of existence? You bet it is. I think every human being is to take that step one day. Through death. And most western people are going to be very surprised to discover that there actually is heaven and hell out there, hidden from our sight in this life, but nevertheless very real in the life to come. How do I know that? Well, considering the logic I’ve presented earlier it makes perfect sense. And more prominently, there’s a book concerning the issues of this life and the life to come, and how to make that transformation successfully. It’s called the Book of Books, the Bible, the Word of God. It’s authentic from the Creator God and talks about the things unseen.

So, why are the western people the ones in particular that will be most caught by the surprise? I thought you’d never ask. Because it is mostly the modern western people who have ceased to believe in the spiritual whatsoever and deny the existence of anything outside their scientific scope which, since it is so limited, has narrowed their worldview down to the minimum of what’s out there. It is the modern western secular mind only that has settled with the premise that everything ends once the coffin is closed, allowing the morality of man to free-fall. Most religions of the world are well rooted in acknowledging the eternal spiritual realm and promise to provide the access to the eternal bliss, each one in its own way. Now, while they are ALL WRONG with the EXCEPTION of ONE TRUE Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the secular worldview of the Western Man seems perhaps the most pathetic and unreasonable of them all. I mean, why would anyone want to diminish the essence and the meaning of life to the point where only the most primitive bodily needs of Maslow’s pyramid remain! It’s scratching the surface instead of going deep! In fact, if you want to be made fun of, felt sorry for and laughed at, go tell about the things of the Bible publicly in a western culture, whereas no Muslim or Buddhist ever ridicules the topic (although they are totally mistaken in the specifics and Muslims will probably try to kill you).

The majority of the world’s population believes in the spiritual, but it’s the “advanced” western man only who happens to have developed a genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow worldview. You might argue that it’s the advanced technology that has “saved” the modern man from the blind stupidity of the past generations. But I have a feeling that man used to be a lot more spiritually minded in the past millennia not because he himself had somehow developed religious views from scratch (the ones the western man is so eager to shake off) but because originally man started out walking with God having a true relationship with his Creator and has gradually lost touch with the spiritual domain as it has been substituted by the growing knowledge of the mechanics and principles and pleasures of this material world. The trend has become especially steep during the previous century which marks the beginning of the scientific era. Europe and America, the two dominant western continents that used to be quite religious up until the beginning of the 20th century, are now on the verge of losing the faith completely. Do you think the believers of the past generations (the greater part of the population) used to be a bunch of dim-wits? And today, in the non-western parts of the modern world, are all those people feeble-minded? Is that it? If it was so, what an enormous advantage the western continents would have over everybody else! Now that the sophisticated-superior sci-fi western popular culture has finally sorted it out that God is for the ignorant and for the simple-minded only, aren’t we supposed to be enjoying our perfect lives in our perfect societies? Now that God is finally almost out of the way, shouldn’t we be able to convince the rest of the world to join us in our quest of Utopia? At best. Wouldn’t we be witnessing an improvement in our pursuit of temporal happiness? At least. To say nothing about having all existential questions still unanswered by our science.

It is evident, however, that the systems created by the worldly wisdom come crashing down. Just take a look around. Everything man has both on the inside and on the outside is in dire straits. To put it frankly, man’s morality is taking a free-fall while the global economy finishes him off. The conventional family is being done away with. Entire countries go bankrupt one after another. Whole continents are struggling to escape the economic disaster. It seems the entire western world needs a bailout. Today it’s the monstrous global economy that has all four corners of the democratic western world in its firm grip by the neck. And to feed this monster more and more consumption is required. That calls for even greater moral decay. Today the modern western man in general has become nothing but the slave of consumerism and devoted himself fully to serving worldly lusts and temporal pleasures. The formula of success says, “He who dies with the most toys, wins.”

Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. (Luke 12:15)

No man can serve two masters … (Matthew 6:24)

They have worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25). And so they’re driven into their doom like cattle, totally off guard, not having the slightest idea of what lies ahead. Out of the blue. Is it happy ignorance or what?!

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:19-21)

Since you’ve read this far, you might as well keep reading and discover the final few points of this article. What is Christmas really about? Namely, why Jesus Christ and the God of the Bible? Why not any of a number of world religions or spiritual practices? They all talk about the afterlife and promise to provide ways to get across safely, don’t they? This is a good question and deserves a fair answer.

* * *

Now first of all, I kindly ask you to forget everything I explained about the parallel dimensions and nD environments. It’s physics and maths mixed with philosophy and may work well in trying to describe this created world, but not the Creator. God is not a science project you can write your thesis on. It’s not up to man to try to define Him by means of man-made sciences. However, it would be wise to take heed to what He Himself has declared about Him in His Word:

  • God is spirit … (John 4:24)
  • … God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
  • … God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (1 John 4:8-9)
  • The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. (Psalms 116:5)
  • The Lord your God is a merciful God … (Deuteronomy 4:31)
  • God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)

Based on the above passages of the Scripture you can’t miss the fact that God is a spirit and that He is a person with certain qualities characteristic to only a person. He is not some sort of force abiding somewhere out there that many people hope to dwell in or draw their force of life and goodness from. He is a Person, a Spirit and He has a distinct purpose with His creation. No man has ever seen Him, but we’re given specific traits of His character that we human beings can easily relate to. God is righteous, gracious, merciful, compassionate. He is light and He is love. It doesn’t say that he has light or that He has love. He is those things. And so we have those same qualities in and around us that we think are humane by nature but aren’t originally. They are divine. God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27) and so we get to share the qualities of his divine nature. Ever since the first sin and the fall of Adam the whole creation has been subjected to another master, the old Serpent, Satan, Lucifer, the Devil. He’s a spirit, too. A very real one. A fallen spirit. He’s void of God’s nature. He’s the result of the absence of light and love. There’s no righteousness in him, no mercy. The Bible says he is a thief, a liar and a murderer (John 8:44, 10:9-10). And because of man’s sin he now is the god of this world:

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

So, again, why Jesus Christ? Why not Allah or Buddha or some other fancy spiritual practice such as New Age or any form of witchcraft or sorcery, spiritual therapists, fortune-tellers, astrology, you name it? They all seem to have a lot to say about the spiritual realm and the application of spiritual laws. You might argue that if what they say really works, then they must be true and why not settle with them and call it a day. But no! Those are all spiritual corruptions intentionally designed by the enemy in a way as to deceive as many as possible away from the truth. Some of their “wisdom” might even be efficient to a certain extent because they truly operate in the spiritual reality. And as the end times progress, the Bible warns us that the antichrist will have the power of Satan and will work signs and miracles.
[*5 More on this …]

I am convinced that if there is a spiritual doctrine, a practice or a religion that has been around for a while and has actual followers and believers, they all have their origin in the spiritual realm, i.e. they have a real contact with and thus operate in the spiritual domain. But make no mistake. They are on the wrong side! And when a man is faced with the undeniably real and obvious spiritual solutions that really-really work, and he doesn’t know any better, an efficient deception has been plotted that will eventually claim his soul.

It is not the question of which religion or spiritual practice can apply the spiritual laws in a more efficient way! It is the question of who is the real AUTHOR behind those laws, who made it all happen and who owns the entire show. It is the question of AUTHORITY. Man is accountable before his Creator and no-one else. “No man can serve two masters …” (Matthew 6:24) “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) Evidently, since it is the first of the Ten Commandments, God does not tolerate idolatry. “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24) God is righteous and He will restore His creation that was played into the hands of the Devil through trespassing God’s direct command. On the day of the Lord God’s order will be restored and all injustice will come to an end. The god of this world, Satan, will be wiped out together with his followers. Even the cursed earth will not be spared on the Judgment Day, only the souls of those who belong to Christ. But He will create a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). “God is not a man, that he should lie … Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Man needs to straighten up and get right with his Creator while there is time!

So, why does God wait?

There’s a good reason. He is merciful to give us time to come to repentance and receive the gift of life.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Please note that it is the will of God that none perish and that all be saved. I think that includes you!

* * *

So, for the last time, why Christianity and Jesus Christ? What is the meaning of Christmas? Why not Buddhism or Islam or Hinduism or any other religion? Don’t they all preach eternal bliss? Yes, they do, don’t they? And whoever falls for them, is eternally doomed.

Here’s a set of Bible passages to show you why and how Jesus is the only name by which man can be saved:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)

When God started creating the world, He said, “Let there be light!” He spoke the words and the creation came to be. Through the Word of God the universe was created. The chapter of John goes on with the Word of God becoming flesh and coming into this world, i.e. the Word of God becoming the Son of man. He became flesh, was born of Mary and was named Jesus (Yeshua [in Hebrew] meaning ‘God saves’). That’s the essence of Christmas really.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:10-14)

He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

As you see, it really is the question of authorship and authority. The passage of Colossians goes on with the supremacy of Christ:

And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:18-20)

And through His blood on the cross man can reach salvation. How? God’s command concerning sin is clear:

For the wages of sin is death … (Romans 6:23)

Yes, that will ever be true. Since the law has to be fulfilled, the sinner has to die. All men have sinned (Romans 3:23). Clearly no one is justified before God by the law … (Galatians 3:11). But Christ gave us a new law, the command of love:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you … (John 13:34)

How did Jesus love us? He took upon Him our sins and died for us paying the full price for them. This is God’s heart, this is God’s love, the ultimate sacrifice. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for all.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

Man is entitled to live because another one died in his place. The wages of sin have been paid for. The law has been fulfilled. Justice is done. All man needs now is to believe it and receive it. Personally.
[*6 More on this …]

What is eternal life? Jesus says,

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

Man is not expected to pick from a variety of religions the one he thinks is right. Man is supposed to meet God himself and through repentance and the sacrifice of Christ get his personal relationship with Him restored here and now. Eternal life is the knowledge of God which results in walking with Him through eternity. It starts in this world and then simply goes on in the world to come. If it doesn’t start here, it won’t happen at all. Remember …

… the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:1-8)

You may even believe that God exists somewhere out there and still not be saved:

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19)

You may even go to church on Sundays like a lot of people do and know everything there is to know about the Bible and Jesus and still not be saved if you don’t know Jesus himself, personally. This is especially true in the Christmas season when the churches are packed with people who have come to participate in their annual sermon on the Baby Jesus being born and Joseph and Mary by the manger and the three wise men. The emotional charge is all they ever care for and then they will leave without having partaken in anything really. Jesus takes it even further when He says,

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22,23)

“Wait a minute! I CAN’T be punished! I’m a western man and was raised up atheist and I DIDN’T KNOW about this stuff!” Well, you do now, don’t you? Don’t stop here. Seems like you’ve been presented a choice. This Christmas could be different for you. Note that God is not in punishing business, he is in love business.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him may be saved. He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:16-19)

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21

This is the nexus of the Gospel and the choice every man is to take. You can’t just neglect it, you’re either on this side or the other. “He that is not with me is against me.”, Jesus said (Matthew 12:30). Not to choose means to choose the unbelieving side. However, if you choose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was sent by the Father to be born into this wicked world to pay for your sins and to die in your place, so that you might live and walk with Him as God raised Him up from the dead to be the firstborn of His children, and you turn to God to receive this free gift of life in prayer through faith, then this will be the first day of your new life.

Now, in closing, let me just ask this question. How on earth does one walk this path together with God on your side? [“on earth” is literal here] That is the core of TRUE Christianity. The Holy Word of God – Jesus, the written Word of God – the Bible will teach you through the Spirit of God in your heart. He says,

… I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)

With this insight on the precious gift of the eternal God, although we are temporarily bound by the temporal, we’re graciously entitled to abound in the eternal. God’s power is unlimited, His knowledge is unending, His presence is with us always and He never changes. Get to know Him! Pray now, mean it, believe it, receive the gift of life, and you’ll be amazed. God bless your soul. Merry Christmas.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

* * *

*1 More on the Judgment Day:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

* * *

*2 More on how to understand the 1D graph:

The 1st graph looks as 2D because it seems to have 2 dimensions. But it should be seen as 1D as it represents the value of one single variable at any given point in time. The value of this single signal can only move up or down on the vertical scale like a spider on a line. The horizontal scale just represents the recordings of the various states of that 1D system. In other words, it’s a single line-shaped universe and its history shown as it progresses from left to right. This way I distinguish the only spatial dimension in this graph from the actual flow of time (which is not in human jurisdiction).

* * *

*3 More on how to understand the 2D graph:

Concerning the second graph, although it may look like 3D, it’s actually 2D for the same reason of the horizontal scale being excluded from the count of dimensions as it isn’t a spatial dimension but represents the progression of time.  In comparison with the previous graph an extra dimension has been added (the depth of field) and instead of a single line moving through time we have an infinite array of lines forming a 2D plane and its state being recorded at any given point in time. It’s like a sheet-of-paper-like universe with an ever changing drawing on it progressing in time and its snapshots being recorded (like cinema really, only instead of the single frames being positioned next to each other as in case of a film roll they are subsequently placed one behind the other from left to right like a stack of cards).

In a similar way the 3D world (as we know it) would form a cube-shaped universe with its 3D snapshots subsequently progressing through time. Kind of like a 3D TV movie recording.

* * *

*4 More on the end of this world and the world to come:

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail on a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light … (1 Thessalonians 5:2-5)

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven … Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13:24-33)

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:1-8)

I find it quite remarkable that the fearful and unbelieving are on the same list with liars and murderers, don’t you?

* * *

*5 More on the great deception of the end times:

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8)

… and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (verses 11-14)

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (verse 24)

If even the elect of God are in danger of becoming deceived, then what chance do you think a regular modern western atheist has when confronted with a deception of such magnitude.

* * *

*6 More on being made righteous with God through the sacrifice of Christ:

The concept of sacrifice, one giving the life for the other, is consistent throughout the Scriptures. The very first “sacrifice” was made already in the Garden of Eden right after the first sin when God made coats of skins and clothed Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness. Where do you think God took those skins from? Somebody’s life was at stake.

The Old Testament law, which came by Moses and was a set of rules and sacrifices of bulls and goats, was only good to temporarily purify the flesh. It was a foreshadow of the things to come. The blood of animals did not wash the sins away, just covered them up:

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4)

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14)

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)

 

Aja märgid

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Euroopa võlakriis, USA majanduslangus, Araabia kevad

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?” Benjamin Franklin, July 28, 1787.

Üksteist aastat varem oli saanud allkirjad 13 osariigi ühine Iseseisvusdeklaratsioon, mis on üks Ameerika Ühendriikide alusdokumente tänini:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness …” The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

Alla kirjutas ka Benjamin Franklin, kes oli signeerijatest „kõige vähem ristiusku“.

Tookord pandi alus Ameerika Ühendriikidele, millest sai järgnevaks 200 aastaks lääneliku, vaba demokraatia kants kogu ülejäänud maailma jaoks. Selle piibliusule rajatud impeeriumi vabaduse vilju on seniajani nautinud kogu läänemaailm, sealhulgas Eesti. Oleme praegugi tegelikult selle kaitsva vihmavarju all. Ka pisike juudiriik Iisrael, Jumala äravalitud rahvas, on keset Lähis-Ida turbulentseid islamiriike alles püsinud vaid oma vankumatu liitlase USA toel. Viimati ametisse valitud USA president on aga moslem, kelle suust on kõnepuldis tulnud paljutähenduslikud sõnad: “We are no longer a Christian nation“. Näiliselt küll vaid sõnad, kuid sisuliselt kinnitus, et 1776. aastal loodud impeeriumi aeg on nüüd ümber saanud, et kaardipakk on juba ümber jagatud ning alanud on uus mäng.

On tõenäoline et praegune vaba ja demokraatlik läänelik maailmakord tõepoolest langeb, et teha ruumi uuele, mille kese saab olema märksa idapool ning ühiseks nimetajaks Islam. Hetkesündmused maailmas tõesti näivad sillutavat teed lõpuaja suurima ahistuse saabumiseks, millest kirjutab Mt 24 ja Tn 7. Praeguse aja konteksti need kirjeldused justkui ei paista sobivat, kuna maailma politseinik ja demokraatia valvur USA on jätkuvalt kurjuse teljel jalus. Läänemaailmakorra vahetusprotsess ise võib osutuda küllaltki äkiliseks ning toimuda näiteks kasvõi ühe inimpõlve vältel. Vabadusega ja heaoluga on ju nii, et kui see kestab kauem, kui üks inimpõlv, siis need, kes pole ise pidanud oma vabaduse ja identiteedi eest võitlema, hakkavad seda ja selle vilju iseenesestmõistetavaks pidama. (“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Ronald Reagan). Muuseas, praegu pealekasvav inimpõlv paistab oma tugeva moraalidefitsiidiga selleks tööks just ideaalselt sobivat. Piisab sellest, kui Globaalmajandus (isand, keda ateistist lääneinimene teenib, AKA Mammon) äkitselt lõplikult mulda variseb ning lääneinimese vee, toidu ja elektrita miljonilinna kõledale tänavale surema jätab. Siis algab anarhia. Samal ajal aga kogub Islam hoogsalt tuure nii läänes kui idas. Maailma jõuvahekorrad mängitakse ümber, lavadekoratsioonid vahetatakse. Ka Iisraeli lähiümbruses, kus eelnimetatud piiblipeatükkides kirjeldatud viimane vaatus segamatult mahamängimisele tuleb.

Euroopa rahandusministrid võivad ju kokku tulla ning proovida Globaalmajandust päästa, kuid vaevalt neil on midagi, millega kaua vastu panna. Pigem õnnestub neil krahhi edasi lükata nagu vett paisu taga hoides, kuid seda ulatuslikum saab olema hilisem üleujutus. Ujutama hakkab ka Maarjamaal. „Me pole kriisi epitsentris, kuid lainetusega saame pihta ikka.“ Lipstok, 26. oktoober 2011. Huvitav, kes küll päästab meid siin Läänemere ääres, ida ja lääne vahel, karukoopale ohtlikult lähedal, kui Euroopa ja Ameerika kaitsvad vihmavarjud on tormituultes murdunud ning nende riismedki nelja tuule poole lennutatud? Äkki karu ei magagi, vaid ootab oma õiget aega. „Sest siis on nii suur ahistus, millist pole olnud maailma algusest kuni praeguse ajani ega tule enam iial.“
Mt 24:21

Make a Difference

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Do you sometimes get the feeling that life is like a high speed train that shoots past you leaving you dazzled in a cloud of dust? Or perhaps from time to time you feel that the world is a giant merry-go-round that spins around with people merrily enjoying the ride, each and every one of them but you? Do you ever find yourself standing still every now and then, wondering about the core values of life, as if mesmerized, or feel an urge to find your own place and purpose in life and get rather desperate not knowing where or how to find it? If you get the drift, then keep reading. If not, then … well …

Man has been facing philosophical problems throughout his existence. Existential issues, such as one’s purpose in life vs. meaninglessness of everyday affairs, predetermined destiny vs. chaos and chance etc., have always accompanied man’s quest. However, if you look around, it’s pretty clear that these are not everybody’s problems. Most people seem to be busy enjoying the ride on the fun-wheel called life. They always get the best seats, make a career, have dozens of friends to hang out with. In other words, they fit in. And together they form what is known as an average person, the average Joe. You know, the regular consumer guy, the addressee of all possible TV ads and commercials, the citizen of supermarkets and the inhabitant of malls. They walk their path rather unconcerned, relying on the system and accepting whatever the mainstream has in store for them, no questions asked. As if having handed over the control and allowed other people to do the thinking and run their lives for them. Like cattle. Except willingly.

Nevertheless, there are and always have been people who stand back, take their time to observe and question the whole spectacle, people who sometimes find things are fundamentally odd in their view. They’re not fulfilled with the stuff that majority finds fulfilling. They look the other way. In the most conventional way they’re strange since they don’t exactly meet the characteristics of the average. They have a hard time fitting in. They’re people not of this foolish world. They’re outsiders.

Now, here’s a practical task. Detect an outsider in this picture:

Who is an outsider? How to distinguish them from ordinary people? I thought you’d never ask :) Actually, it’s quite simple. The man who is interested to know how he should live instead of merely taking life as it comes, is automatically an outsider. Frankly, if you think you are an outsider, then you already are. According to a British writer C. Wilson, outsiders have their proper place in the order of society, therefore the importance of outsiders in society is undeniable. Wilson states that they are the spiritual dynamos and that the vitality of the ordinary members of society is dependent on its outsiders. Such a statement clearly divides the society into two distinct groups of people: ordinary members and outsiders with an open implication of the latter being … what … superior? So, their success or failure will in one way or another determine the fate of all the rest.

The main concern of outsiders is a philosophical answer to the practical question: What shall we do with our lives? Wilson asserts that there are two opposed realms in an outsider’s world. One is neatly ordered and the other controlled by chaos. Good and evil. The problem is that in order to achieve self-realization within the boundaries of the good and well-ordered world, one must face the trial of chaos and evil first, overcome it and then return to the good. Only then will he be able to comprehend its concept, live by it and set an example for others seeking the same purpose. Think of the New Testament and the example of Jesus, the Son of Man. Wasn’t he taken into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days before he was able to start his ministry on Earth and set the new order? This is man’s challenge. To face the trials and tribulations and pass the test. You must be able to go through thick and thin in order to make a difference. If you fail, well, … you’re ordinary.

Here’s another example which, in my mind, has drawn a great deal from the previous one. Think of the protagonist in many Hollywood action movies. Don’t they follow the same simple pattern in most plots: happy life > trouble turning into world crisis > a lonely hero with lots of confrontation > crucial moment > inner struggle where the hero finally sorts things out for himself > inhumane self-sacrifice > happy life? At one point the evil in these films always seems to find the weak spot of the system causing it to malfunction, the authorities, in this context the ordinary people, become a bunch of useless idiots and everything boils down to the (controversial) qualities of just one person – the hero who will eventually save the day for everybody – the outsider, who by ignoring the ordinary achieves extraordinary, by defying natural accomplishes supernatural.