What is reality?

For many the physical world is all that is real, and things like thoughts and ideas are simply vapours. However many ideas have survived centuries, outlasting dynasties. Kingdoms have come and gone, governments have come and gone, but some ideas just won’t go away!

When mankind discovered the atom, many thought that it was the smallest particle that matter consists of, but pretty soon we understood that an atom consists of protons, neutrons and electrons. But what are they made of? Further investigation unveiled quarks! But what are they made of?

Science is continually questioning the nature of reality, and one of the conclusions that many scientist are coming to, is that there is a dimension of ‘information’ at the core of reality, which is not bound by either time or space.

Gisin speculates that some “influence” may be affecting both experiments coming from “outside space and time.” Gisin says he means by this that “there is no story in space and time” to account for nonlocality.  (http://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/gisin/)

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) in a letter of condolence to the sister of an old friend, wrote the following:

Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.

John 1:1 speaks about the ultimate reality, the reality which gave birth to all of creation. John calls this creative reality, the ‘Logos’, the Greek word from which we get words such as ‘Logic’ and ‘Word’. It speaks both about the ‘thought’ and the expression of that thought. This ‘Logos’ existed before creation and continues to uphold all of creation in existence.

There is a wisdom that does not have its origin in this world, a wisdom that was not conceived by man. This wisdom began before creation, before time. It stands on its own, outside of time and space, yet is equally at home within this temporal realm. Although it manifests itself within creation, it is not confined to, or limited by creation. Time does not change it, no event can subtract from it. Yet it is relevant and specific to you. This wisdom has its reference in the heart and mind of God.

God is who He is, whether we believe in Him or not. What He declares is true, whether we agree or not. What He creates and what He does is reality, whether we acknowledge it or not. He is the one and only Creator and you are His workmanship, whether you accept it or not.

Reality has its ultimate and final basis in the person of God.
To exist in the mind of God is the most substantial existence you can have.
To discover ourselves in His thoughts is to discover the greatest reality about ourselves – more real than our physical form.
Meditate on that – the implications are awesome.

Let me say this again: reality has its ultimate and final basis in the person of God. Whatever contradicts God might seem real, but ultimately it is doomed to pass away into the unreal nothingness that it is.

The Gospel unveils God’s reality
Truth is the uncovering, the revelation of God’s reality. That which might have seemed real – the covering – is exposed for the illusion it is, when reality is uncovered, when truth shines forth.

John says that this ultimate reality entered our dimension of time and space, the logic that upholds the universe, the Creator of all things became part of creation. The Word became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. In Him the reality of God and the reality of man is uncovered.

Our descriptions of this reality might change, but reality itself is immutable. The gospel is nothing less that the word of truth, the uncovering of reality, the declaration that God successfully, once and for all, removed sin and restored man to the place of innocence He destined us for.

Despite thousands of years of religion and diligent study, the reality of God was never known before this event. Matthew makes this extraordinary statement: “no one knows the Father except the Son” Mt 11:27. But it is for this very purpose that the Son of God has come, to reveal the Father, and in that process reveal the truth about you.

Jesus did not bring just another theory, another possibility, another shadow. His message is not some abstract philosophy. He displays reality. His words and deeds corresponds to who He is – God Himself, reality itself, within human flesh.

Relational reality
God, as revealed in Christ Jesus, is not a distant, uninvolved, or neutral God, but a God who refuses to be God in any other way than for man, with man and in man. He is close, personal and absolutely committed to mankind.

Jesus reveals a God who is intimately acquainted with the details of our lives – He even knows the number of hair on your head!

If we want to know what God is like, we should look at how He chose to reveal Himself. He revealed Himself in Christ as a relational God – He wants to be known, not theoretically, but personally and intimately.

Jesus involved Himself in the real human dramas of people’s lives. He did not conceal Himself to some sacred place and occasionally uttered great philosophical phrases. No! He was at the weddings, with the sick and outcasts, developing real relationships with His followers … even while they did not understand Him fully. God is relational.

Present reality
Jesus reveals that God is present. His primary concern is not to explain the past or predict the future, but to uncover the reality of this moment. When the ‘Logos’ which was before time, and continues to exist outside of time, enters our time … or our understanding of time … He changes our understanding of time completely. His coming is referred to as the fullness of time (Eph 1:10)

Paul gives further insight into this when he writes: “… whether things present or things to come, all are yours” (1 Cor 3:22)
Did you get that?
The future can’t add anything to you!
Because even things to come is yours already.
The future only holds a further revelation, a further unveiling of what is yours already.

Jesus had some stern words for people who were so busy studying the scriptures that they missed the life, the reality that stood right in front of them – God in human form – yet they preferred their books, their topics and speculations about the future. (John 5:39)

Jesus reveals that Eternal life has little to do with our illusions of endless time, but has everything to do with the quality of relationship we enjoy with the Father and Himself (John 17:3)

Let’s get real!
“…do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor 4:18

Reality is not the physical stuff around you, nor is it the fleeting opinions and philosophies of man. The source of all creation, the ‘Logos’ of God, is where you began and where the true you still exists at this moment. You are loved by reality Himself – discover yourself in Him.