Virtual Reality

“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away…For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face…”
1 Corinthians 13:10, 12 (KJV) 

I remember as a child getting our first TV.  It only showed programmes in Black and White, and only during certain times of the day.  Many of you may remember the picture disappearing into the dot at the end of broadcasting for the day, and then there was ‘snow’ until the programming resumed the next morning.

When I was about eight years old, my neighbours got a colour TV!  I was invited over Sunday mornings for Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Colour—the only colour programme on TV at that time!

I was in my 30s before we had a colour TV, and believe it or not, I resisted having colour!  I was used to imagining my own colours.  Now we have HD.  There are 3D TVs out there, and who knows what will be next.  It seems that each step takes us a little closer to reality.  But, you know, virtual reality will still not be the real thing.  The real thing is incomparably better than any imitation, just as an image or shadow is inferior to the reality that it represents.

Using television as an analogy, mankind begins as a ‘mortal’, or physical being with only a limited lifespan, which is like that Black and White TV with limited programming.  When we accept Jesus as our Saviour and are baptized, we have the indwelling Spirit within us (Christ in us our hope of glory, Colossians 1:27) and we see things differently, which is like colour TV with 24 hour programming.

At Christ’s return, or the resurrection, whichever comes first for us, we step out of the TV into spiritual reality (put on immortality, 1 Corinthians 15:53), which we can only imagine now.  And, do you know, Eternal Life is immeasurably better than the physical one we are living now, and which people are desperately trying to prolong.  We won’t need our 3D glasses through which the header scripture above says we see darkly, or the mirrors of virtual reality.  We shall see God as he is and join him in life eternal—REAL LIFE!

Prayer
Father in Heaven, we see that this physical life is only a temporary shadow of life that is to come.  We look forward to the time when our virtual reality becomes Life Eternal through Christ in us.
Amen

Study by Nancy Silcox

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About the Author:
Nancy Silcox attends the Watford Congregation of the Worldwide Church of God UK.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God Watford
St. Peter’s Church
61 Westfield Avenue
Watford,
Herts.
WD24 7HF

Meeting Time:
Saturday 11AM

Local Congregational Contact:
George Henderson
Phone:  01923-855570
Email: george-sue.henderson@tesco.net