bible – Insurrection Of The Mind

Fishing Nets Tossed in the Sand

Most people have heard the story of how Jesus called his disciples to follow after him. He did not go out and pick a group of religious leaders to take around and teach the people, nor did he pick a bunch of religious zealots to help him carry his message of freedom from the chains of sin. He picked several average guys from different walks of life and trained them to carry on the message that he began. The life of Christ is a very powerful story that sometimes becomes routine for people because they have heard it a hundred times. It is sad that it happens, but it is true. Sometimes people need a fresh look at parts of it in order to let the message continually impact and shape their lives.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman. “Come follow me, ” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once, they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20 TNIV

Seems like a simple story but hold on! What would make two brothers who were experienced fishermen their entire lives throw down their nets, leaving their source of income, and follow after Christ without question? Imagine if you were standing on the street here in downtown Indianapolis, and Jesus walked up to you saying to follow him. Would you drop your possessions and follow after him? Could you leave your work or friends and family? It is easy to respond, “Yes, of course I would!”

But think really hard…. Could you really do it?

It is powerful that these men whom Christ chose gave up their lives and walked with him, an incredible act of faith. It also speaks to the character of Jesus. His request was simple and straightforward.

Come, follow me.

At that point, Peter and Andrew would live changed lives and walk a new path. Their net laid there next to the sea; a symbol of their earthly lives. They left that like cast into the sand and walked into a new life with Christ.

What nets do you hold on to? What are you still fishing for? If we really experience Christ for who he is and what he can do in our lives, we will drop those nets and follow him. It is easier said than done, but with the help of Jesus, we can let go.

Unimaginable Faith

I am always shocked and amazed when people tell me that they believe there is nothing after life. Once we die, there is nothing, and it is all over.

If this is the case, what is the point of living? Why do you get up and go to work everyday? To think there is nothing beyond takes an insurmountable amount of blind faith. I argue, even more faith than believing any school of thought including reincarnation.

One way I approach it is that if there is nothing beyond this physical existence, then we are just like the animals and insects that roam this planet. Why should we create rules, laws, moral codes? The raccoon pulverizing my trash can does not subscribe to a moral code of law.

This is truly survival of the fittest. True Darwinian school of thought where only the strong are able to exist. But then they die and the story is over. How depressing.

Taking a logical approach, I find it hard to imagine that in a world of many different living species, only one has evolved into an intelligent, self-aware and remarkable being that is completely different from any other living organism on earth. I believe it is a strong case for intelligent design. Otherwise, we are no better than the cockroach. We may be more physically vulnerable than the cockroach, but it could not write Beethoven’s fifth symphony. Our ability to survive is based on our ingenuity, not our physical evolution.

Everyone is born with a sense that there is more to this existence than just living and dying. To deny that is to have incredible faith that nothing you do in this life will matter because in the end, you will be gone.

I applaud the bravery and exceptional display of faith to these individuals. To have a “free pass” if you screw up in life is amazing! Unfortunately, my faith is not that strong, and I surrender to the inner feeling that there is something beyond what we do here on this earth. Therefore, I chose to live the best life I can being of strong moral character and humble to know that there is something greater than I am.

Pride is what drives those who believe there is nothing beyond. Plain and simple.

Days Gone Down

How many times have you wished to go back and change the things you did in the past? If only you had turned left instead of right…

Unfortunately, the reality is that the past is gone, and we can only move forward. We can reflect and learn from our past, but we must press forward. Live in the present and strive to the future. Always remember that tomorrow’s decisions are always more important than the decisions of yesterday.

A person may still be impacted by the consequences of their past actions, but it is more important to make choices to respond to the consequences. Wishing we had chosen differently in that pas only leads to regret, desperation, and hopelessness.

Keep your eye on the prize. Do not let the days gone down, drag you to their depths with them. Residing there will delay your race forward. The prize lays before us, not behind. As the Apostle Paul tells us, we need to keep our eyes on the prize.

“We still gotta long way, still a long way to go.”

Power in Freedom

To most people, the idea of power is equivalent to control. Power becomes synonymous with “power over” something. It could be a person, a group of people, an object, a behavior, or an idea.

Do not confuse power as control. True power comes from letting our souls free from forces that exert control over us. Power comes from a life of morality and resistance against immorality.

Real power comes from freedom in thought.

Compromising is the greatest enemy. It is important to remember that you can not control other people’s actions nor their moral compass. Each individual must make those choices though they will likely be influenced, coerced, or forced. In this we lose our power.

Our power is compromised, leaving us powerless and controlled. We become mindless drones.

Moral goodness is obtained within oneself by discovery. Take the knowledge and let your soul guide you. People are born with a conscience and the knowledge of good and evil. Do not do what is good because you are told to. It must be a desire- a passion!

Do not be a prisoner to this immoral world. Use your power to break free of its chains. Continue to pursue truth in all things every moment of your existence. There is no greater power!

Bravely Into the Unknown

What is it about the unknown that fascinates us? Why can’t we be content and just let the unknown be what it is? Humans have a drive to want to know more than what is placed before them. We are like the little kids who constantly ask their parents, “why?” It is that moment as a parent that we try to explain, but the follow-up “why” keeps coming like a torrential flood.

I use this example, because in life every answer can be followed up with “why.” There is always more to know even when we think that we have gotten to the final answer. Guess what? There is no final answer to this question; it is a chain of constant mystery and constant discovery. To me, that is what makes living so fascinating! You can never know it all and you can constantly discover new things every day of your life! I can continue to try to be like a motivational speaker and put a positive spin on everything, but I am a realist also. This can be an extremely frustrating and disheartening part of life which can become a spiral downward into depression and eventually apathy.

The soul needs to find answers but must also be enlightened to the fact that not all answers can be found. I remind myself on a daily basis that if I knew all the answers my tiny brain would not be able to handle it, and I would likely implode. The human mind is not equipped to handle total knowledge. We can barely handle the knowledge of good and evil. When faced with morally good choices, how many times do we choose the evil choice? It is an almost daily occurrence.

Humans are made in God’s “image” and not made to be “gods.” This does not mean that we should not strive to be greater than we are. We need to continue to strive to be holy and moral, seeking out the answers to life. Souls are designed to grow in wisdom and knowledge just like an apple tree is designed to grow fruit and flourish. Everything in nature grows for a purpose according to its design.

Mankind is not different in this respect.

It is different in that we are self-aware with the ability to destroy the balance. It is the price of the knowledge between good and evil. Right and wrong. Moral and immoral.

Humans are the most destructive force of nature.

Will you strive to rise above it?