Virtual Reality

by Robert Flores

“As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. “—Psalm 103:15-16

Virtual Reality is here and now. It is this life that we’re living right now. This life is a training ground for something much greater and much grander than any of us can even imagine. The Bible says this life is but a shadow; a vapor. Psalm 144:4 says it this way, “Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow.”

All this life is is but a mere photocopy of a greater original document. This life is a small snack compared to a full 7-course meal. It’s a dark mirror, but someday we will see clearly. The pleasures of this flesh are nothing compared to the pleasures in Christ.

Virtual reality is typically defined as something that is meant to “feel” like “real” life through all your senses. Well, the real life—eternal life—can only be felt through the power of the Holy Spirit. He knows what most people see in the physical world.

You can’t get more reality than when you know your Creator/Savior intimately. You can’t get more real than when you’re on your knees talking to Him. Reality isn’t following the American Dream, world peace, putting food in your stomach, veganism, watching TV, going to school, driving to work, playing sports, having sex, loving your family, retiring and finally dying some day. If that is reality then that is a sick joke. No, our reality is in Christ alone. 1 John 5:12 says, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

In fact, each of these things that I mentioned above, as enjoyable as they are, take on a completely different meaning when you know what reality is. When God has reached into your heart and lavished His grace on you, you know what reality is. When He opens your eyes to what Jesus did on the cross for you, you know what reality is. When you realize you have been forgiven of all your sins, you know what reality is. When you look forward to your face-to-face meeting with Him someday, you know what reality is.

C.S. Lewis says this great quote in the last book of the Narnia series. The Unicorn stamps his right forehoof and says, “I have come home at last! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now... Come further up, come further in!” (The Last Battle, Narnia, vol. 7)

When your life is found in Christ. When you find your reality in Him, you will want to serve Him completely. Don’t waste your life on the silly things of this world. His joys are so worth it.

Job reminds himself that his life is but a breath: “Oh, remember that my life is a breath!”—(Job 7:7a). How often we forget that we are one heartbeat away from eternity. All we live for is now, much of the time. James in the New Testament echoes a similar statement: “. . . whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14).

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (second to Christ) said this: “For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow?” (Ecclesiastes 6:12a)

Do you want to waste your life on trivial things or do you want to use your life for Christ (that which has eternal value)? Paul said, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) and again in Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”

God gave your life; He gave you your breath and your hands and heart. We owe our every moment on this earth to Him. Don’t fritter away your life in front of the TV or video games. Get out and do something for Him. Leave a legacy behind when you are gone. Your legacy will be the only thing you leave behind, as you go to the True Reality and meet Him face-to-face.

“LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.” — Psalm 39:4-6