The scripture is at the end of the devotional.

Our lives are filled with things we do that typically produce results.  Sometimes the results are good – sometimes not so good.  It helps to have a clear idea of what the result is supposed to be and what must be done to produce it.  If we want to take a trip we identify where we are going; when; for how long; and how are we going to get there.  If we’re going to Miami and wind up in Duluth somebody goofed up.

If we are in sales, we had better sell. If we’re in auto repair, the cars we work on must be fixed when we’re done.  But what happens when we become casual or are misinformed as to results we should be having?  What if we think we’re doing things right and we’re not?  Is it possible to become so mistaken as to the nature of what we are doing that we can walk comfortably in that delusion?

One of my sons got his family an incredible video game system called Wii (pronounced wee) for Christmas a few years ago.  This system allows you to play an immense number of games.  It has a sports component that includes games such as bowling, tennis, golf and wave-boarding where your physical motions with the control in your hands and your body movements determine how well you do.  Now suppose we become really good at these various ‘sports’ on this game system and share our excitement with friends who also have such games.  We discuss how we are improving at golf or tennis or bowling.

Picture people so caught up in these video sports that they consider their performance as the real thing.  Wii golf becomes golf.  Wii tennis becomes tennis.  Wii bowling becomes bowling.  What happens when they meet someone who doesn’t know about Wii, who invites them to play golf?  Our Wii player is then surprised when s/he is taken to a golf course instead of a game room.  What does the Wii player say when confronted with the real McCoy?  Do they respond, “This is not the way we play the game.”?

Is it possible to become so comfortable with the artificial that we are unaware of what the real McCoy looks like?  Can we become so mistaken that we completely (and sincerely) distort reality?  Consider the Lord’s admonition to the Laodiceans:

¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  (Revelation 3:15-17)

To be continued…