Beyond Infinity

The opening of the old Twilight Zone television series "You open this door with the key of imagination.  Beyond it is another dimension."  What lies beyond the world of our limited existence has long fascinated the human mind and challenged the human spirit.  Perhaps that's why we read and write speculative fiction. In so doing, we try to pull back the curtain. 

I know you already expect me to say, there is something, or better yet, someone behind the curtain.  Even now, you hear a voice saying, "Don't pay any attention to the man behind the curtain."  But unlike the Wizard of Oz in which an ordinary man creates an extraordinary being, the "man behind the curtain" is the one that created all those wonderful ordinary things we take for granted, and that voice doesn't want you to see that the who behind the curtain is what is truly extraordinary.

Much like The Matrix there is a world behind what we perceive.  Unlike that movie, though, the reality behind the illusion is not only exciting, but better than the illusion.  That reality, as you may have guessed, is a personal relationship with the living God of this universe, an encounter with the divine which can transform the individual.

No, I'm not talking about some kindly old guy in a long white beard with candy in one hand and a lightning bolt in another.  I am talking about a transcendent, omnipotent being who is the fountainhead of all existence.  He is The Source.  He is a being of such magnitude that we can only conceive of him in metaphors.  He is a being so full of the life force that he gives it away throughout the universe.  And, in at least one place in that broad universe, he added something extra - sentience. To be sentient is to be self-aware and self-directing with a consciousness of right and wrong and the ability to choose between them.

Whether these sentient beings, these humans, were created in the afternoon of the Sixth Day of creation or were the end result of a guided evolution is an argument for another time and place.  We do know that there is something special about the human animal which cannot be explained away by mere chance collisions of molecules in the brain.

However, sentience brings with it certain dangers, like the ability to choose poorly.  Along the way, humanity chose poorly, and  broke off the intimate relationship with God which was intended to sustain them.  Being stewards of the planet Earth, that poor choice brought nature itself down with them.  The Bible calls this poor choice - Sin. 

With "The Fall," to use Christian terminology, came a consequence.  The bridge between God and humanity had been destroyed. That meant that humanity was "on its own" to decide right and wrong, but with an inherently flawed moral compass, doing so produced poor results.

Contrary to popular belief "sin" does not refer to some evil done intentionally.  Sin is an archery term.  It simply means missing the mark.  No one at an archery match tries to miss and only the most perverted would try to shoot the other contestants.  Most are trying to hit the target, but we are weak and our eyesight is blurred.  We need help to hit the target. Likewise, human beings, by and large, have good intensions, they simply don't have the strength or the wisdom to carry out those intensions.

Put another way, it's as if there is a chasm between God and humanity.  Some people deny the chasm exists and walk out into air and fall on the rocks below.  Others try to jump the chasm under their own power.  Some people only have enough strength to jump a meter and then fall.  Others are stronger and they make it two meters, but they still end up on the rocks below.

What God has done is build a bridge across that chasm. He did it by coming to Earth in the form of Jesus Christ. The creator enters his own creation. It is a tale worthy of Rod Serling, but this tale is real.  Jesus death on the cross paid the penalty for sin and re-established the connection between God and humanity.

Today, if you are seeking for God, you can be assured that he is also seeking for you. To find that connection, you simply need to do three things:

1. Admit you are a sinner, that you can’t live a moral life on your own, and ask God’s forgiveness of your sins. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1.9)

2. Ask Jesus to come and dwell in your heart. I know this sounds strange, but God wants to be a part of your daily life, to live inside you through His spirit. This spirit will give you constant access to God without rituals or sacrifices. His spirit will comfort in times of trouble, guide in times of indecision, and correct you when you begin to stray from God’s path for your life.

3. Join with others in a community of faith. Christianity is not a solitary religion. Find a good Bible-Believing church in your area. If you live in the Central Valley of California, I invite you to join with Full Gospel Assembly of God, Caruthers.. If not, you can search for a good Assembly of God church online by clicking here.

If you have made this decision today, we would love to hear about it. Email us today and let us know so we can rejoice with you. If you  do, we will send you some materials to help you get started in your new life. It's a great adventure.  It's a journey beyond Earth.  Beyond Infinity.