“…but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).”
I love surprise endings, like The Sixth Sense film –– Dr Crowe tries to cure young Cole’s neurosis (he sees the unseen world, ghosts), but the trick isn’t revealed until the very end, when Crowe realizes his gunshot wound in the opening scene was fatal; that’s why Cole, “I see dead people,” can see him. Dr Crowe has been dead…the whole movie! Tricked!
Like Dr Crowe, we’re unaware that we are dead too, spiritually speaking, and the unseen world is the actual reality. The Bible reveals the trick in Ephesians 2:1, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.” But the Sin-trick is still in play and Sin needs removal before our physical demise seals our fate (John 8:24). Like thick scales on the eyes of our heart, we’ve all been duped. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9).” We think this is really living, but actually we’re dead.
Deceived means you don’t know you’re deluded. Even now you question this very point, that you’re Sin-tricked; unconcerned, trusting in your five senses. I can prove it to you, but I can’t convince you. Jesus said as much, “If they will not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:31).” If we won’t bother to read God’s remedy, then even a resurrection miracle can’t shake us.
Oblivious, the proverbial frog in the pot of warming water, we’re content to not consider His Word as our cure, comfortably numb as we slow-boil to death. I’ve reasoned with a cousin who is not a Christian for two years, answering his questions in great detail, but finally this week he told me he is not persuaded. Loved my answers, they all made perfect sense, and was impressed by my knowledge of the Scriptures, but he’s decided to take his chances that this world is all there is. Proved, but not convinced.
Heartbreaking, but God loves us enough to let us choose –– seek Him or ignore Him (Acts 17:30). He will not force a robotic love. We must want His gift of eternal life. My cousin has chosen to ignore the unseen world, and so now I ask you. Will you consider the real world or just sit in the boiling water, happy with what you can only see? In short, do you think Jesus lied to you? (He discusses Truth in the Gospel of John, chapter 8.)
I left my cousin with two questions: Is the Bible a supernatural revelation, and is Jesus’ tomb in Jerusalem empty? Disprove those points and then “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” But if you seek Him out, He promises you’ll meet Him (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Perhaps try reading the Book of Romans in a modern translation (NLT or NIV). The Apostle Paul lays out the Jesus cure very succinctly to the Roman believers.
Reading Romans will only take an hour. I bet it will surprise you, and hopefully change your ending. Remember, deceived means you don’t know you’re deluded. Surprise endings can be great fun, unless you’re the one tricked…like Dr Crowe.
YHM 