The boundary model is a powerful tool that shows everything clearly for what it is, including the future, while explaining why it is. Permit me to demonstrate.
“It shall even be as when a hungry man
dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as
when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and,
behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all
the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.”
Imagine a city. An enormous city, made of durable concrete,
full of billions of people who’ve very nearly mastered the difficult challenge
of eradicating the created boundaries. There’s absolutely no humor in this
place—indeed the citizens even lack the ability
to smile. They’re a miserable, haggard and restless people, being unable to
sit, lie down, or afford even a moment’s comfort. Having given
themselves over to erasing all the pleasurable distinctions, they’ve out of
necessity banished even the basic maintenance pleasures like not feeling hungry
or thirsty.
It’s cold there. And while it’s true that they’re tormented by the burning, monotonous cold that pierces their ragged clothes, they still prefer the pain to having a distinction between cold and anything else. Were their bodies not impervious to death, the cold would’ve killed them instantly, but as it stands they're just barely able to endure it.
There’s no light of any kind either. By unanimous consent they’ve eliminated all light—both within and without the city—so that the distinctions between things can’t be seen. When they do stumble into each other by accident, they try to forcefully establish whose vision will be dominant. The violence continues until one of them gives up and shambles away down the senseless maze-like corridors out of earshot. When they’re alone again they wail, or gnash their teeth in anger. They are a deluded, unhappy, savage people. Their rejection of the boundaries is almost total.
Except for the one thing: they still feel the presence of
the God they hate, and are aware at every moment of His existence. They’re
still aware of His might, knowing that because that they’ve been made in His
image they will live forever. They feel His wrath, breaking in against their
pantheism, their desire to be Him. His will is there, always there, continually whispering, “My throne, My rule, Mine alone." They long to bring Him
down, but barring that they’d be content to bring down the city upon themselves
to obliterate themselves instead, but alas they can do neither, so simply
sit in the dark and cut themselves, howling when they must, fighting when they’re
not. Forever.
That’s the future for everyone who rejects, has rejected, or will reject even
the smallest of God’s created boundaries, because as Bilbo taught us, “You step
onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you
might be swept off to.” The broad road is like a river in that respect—simply stand
still and the current will carry you down into hell without you even being
aware of it. Note that this isn’t a threat, or a warning to be perfect or else, but merely a description
of reality. Once you’ve ruled out reconciliation with God as a solution and begin
to transgress the created boundaries then it becomes inevitable you will
transgress an increasing number of them until you arrive at the dark city. It
is a certainty.
For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
What? Were you thinking I was going to predict something else with the model? Like which side will win the upcoming election? Did you think I would describe how the chattering classes will chalk up the victory to the excellent turn out the vote model which worked by appealing to people’s fears? Mention that the people will vote conservatives in only because they grew leery about how fast the progressives have moved, and only desire to tap the break and let society settle a bit?
It takes absolutely no skill to predict that. As soon as the conservatives take control they’ll begin managing the government the progressives put in more effectively, content to freeze everything as it is. Soon after that the progressives will win back the seat of power as the people tire of moving so slowly on all issues. The progressives will appeal to their sense of self-righteousness; make them feel like better people if they join the ranks, and the conservatives will be turned out. The cycle will repeat, moving leftward each time until we’ve given up the boundary between life is worth living and who cares if we die or not, at which point we’ll abort, euthanize, and vote with our wombs that our society should not go on.
Of course there’s always the danger of God stepping in and arresting our slide with another great revival of true Christianity. There’s always the danger of Him putting hearts right and pulling men into His control. He is in the business of raising up dead men to life after all. But barring that the conservatives will whine about encroaching tyranny, and the erosion of liberty, thinking this is the same modernism movement as before, while the progressives will laugh at their backwards, hidebound vision and press on. They full well know that this time the tyrant is not without, but within.
And so what of all that? Does it really matter if we get a smaller or larger fistful of pleasure from our culture if we’re eventually forced to take up residency in the black land where all boundaries are banished? Does it ultimately matter if the conservatives win 12 of the next 25 elections when they could have easily won 16? No my friend, no it does not. You are infinitely more valuable than it, unthinkably more worthwhile. Compared to your eternal destiny those things aren't even worth mentioning.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not
his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might 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 loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
You and your eternal destiny matter, not the petty concerns of this world. So if you’re reading this and are still unconverted, then know that there’s a better option for you than to play out pantheism and flee from God until it traps you in hell forever. You can apologize and return to Him. It turns out that God only seems evil because we didn’t want to own up to the fact that we’re actually the ones who’re evil. We’ve been cruel, not Him. We’re the ones who want Him gone while He wants to save us. As proof, He’s sent His only son Jesus to take the penalty we’ve incurred, to pay the debt and damages we’ve rung up against Him. We killed Him because He’s good and we’re evil, but He’s risen from the dead because He's God. He’s mighty to save. The price He asks in return is for you to trust Him, draw near to Him, and let Him be your savior. Let Him transform your vision to see the real world He’s made, and one day He’ll take you to heaven, a place so wonderful that it's forbidden to speak of it.
Therefore turn from your pantheistic ways. Stop pushing against the boundaries and accept the truth of reality. Believe in Jesus to rescue you from your plight with your whole heart and He will. Take up your Bible this day and begin reading at the gospel of John to know more. You’ll be glad you did.
No comments:
Post a Comment