20081031

No matter where you go, there you are

It doesn't matter how far you travel the one constant thing is you. You may be in a new environment, a new town, or even a new country - but you can never get away from yourself. Even when your friends or family are not around, you are. I bring this up because i've seen many people act in totally different ways when they think no one is around and/or watching. One can put on a 'face', but they will have to live with themselves in the end. What got me thinking about this today is the game i have been looking forward to for so long has finally hit the shelves. One of the big selling points is that the player can act like either Luke Skywalker (a good guy), Han Solo (a kind of Neutral guy), or like Count Dooku (a real bad guy). The game even keeps track of your 'karma' and it will change how you can interact with the rest of the game world. I have never been one drawn to games like "Grand Theft Auto" or things like that, but i know many are. I don't even begin to know where to try and understand why so many people are. My boss and his son came to an agreement. Do not play any games that you would not do in real life. Now, that's an over simplified statement - but i think the concept comes across. If i need to go on a business trip i should behave as if my beloved is right there with me. If i am playing a video game, or any type of game, i need to behave as a Christian. Just because it's not real does not mean it that it is a moral choice you are making. Just because it is easy (like copying movie DVD or music CD's) does not make it acceptable. Just because you disagree with a law does not mean you are free to violate it. The only exception would be when it crosses with what God says is right and wrong. I have been voting for... well let's just say this is not my first election. ;-) The candidate that i voted for does not always win the election (big surprise there), but i need to keep in mine just Who has established the "king". While i was on active duty my team and i got to interacting with a man who was on his way to a formal function at the Officer's Club. I had noticed a Bible on his dashboard and made a comment about the Good Book (probably not an acceptable thing to do in uniform). Some how he turned it into a tirade against the administration of the time. I let him go on for a good two minutes before i said to him that it is God who established the rulers of all times, and in all places. He stopped, thought for a moment and said, "I will have to give that some thought". The point i think i am trying to make is that we are to be good and seek to follow Him, no matter where we are, or who is elected. We may not agree with those who are elected, or the laws that are passed, but we are to be good citizens and act as if it was God Himself sitting on the seat of government - for He is. For He has ordained all things for His greater glory and purpose - wether we understand it or not. Verse for today: Romans 13 : 1-7, ESV Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

1 comment:

Susan said...

Love this post. Yes, there is never a time to "let down" and behave as if we don't know WHO is in control, is there??

Thanks for good food for thought today.

:-) Susan