POSTS+

A few days ago, John said he wanted to show me something. He launched three online videos from his laptop, each featuring a child playing the piano. They were classical players and each performed with a full orchestra. The little girl was five years old, the two boys were five and three.

It was amazing to watch them play. Their renditions were flawless, their feet halfway to the floor, and arms stretched to compensate for their short reach. Their adorable fingers stretched and moved without a detectable miss, and the three-year-old flared and nodded like a seasoned musician. None of them used music, and they seemed almost detached, as though effort and attention was not required. 

As we watched, John said quietly, “Look how far we have moved from what God intended.”

Whew. I had to think about that. 

Imagine the world that He intended. Everything would operate in harmony. There would be perfect peace and equitable justice. There would be no war, no fear, and no lack. 

The creatures of the earth would dwell together, as would humanity. Man would be wise, discerning, and understanding. He would share his gifts, but he would not boast of them. Within the confines of the laws of his Great Creator, he would live in the “paradise of God.” (Rev 2:7 NIV) 

Jesus admonished the church at Ephesus when He had John write them, “Look how far you have fallen.” (Rev 2:5 NIV) Theirs was a thriving church, founded by the Apostle Paul and supported by great teachers. Jesus said that the church body had worked hard, persevered and endured hardships, yet they had forsaken the love they had at first. 

There is a phenomenon called the Angle of Depression, that explains why objects appear smaller as we move further from them. In short, as we move further away, the angle becomes less steep because the overall distance increases. For instance, when you stand under a tree and look up at its height, it will appear much taller than when you walk away from it and look back.

And so it is with us. The further we move away from our first love, the less significant it appears. As the distance increases, the conviction decreases. When I look back at some of the mistakes and poor decisions I have made, I am sure He whispered, “Look how far you have fallen.” 

It is no wonder that Solomon admonished us:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. _4:23  

Take hold of my words with all your heart.. _4:4

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. _4:13

Fix your gaze directly before you. _4:25

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet. _4:26

      And finally:

Bind (His commands) always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you, when you awake, they will speak to you. _6:21-22

So, though we remain in a tainted world, we can yet rejoice because our eyes look for the beautiful, unfathomable city to come; our hearts long for the peace that God intended; our ears listen for the sound of the trumpet. 

Then we will shout, “Look how far …… we have come! Amen!”