Perspective
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
(1 Corinthians 1:25) KJV
Let’s take stock of our surroundings and gather our perspective. The word perspective doesn’t occur in the King James Bible. The idea, point of view, does. We refer to it as frame of reference.
We, that’s me and the Holy spirit, are weak in the world, insignificant and despised, viewed as nothing. Mainstream science (SciPop) is strong, universally accepted, viewed as something. This is our calling: to bring SciPop to nothing.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29) KJV
In the passage above the idea of perspective occurs as a charge to be mindful of the relationship between God and man. Here it is in a different version.
Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29) HCSB
Here’s our perspective check. Why is perspective important? We’re going to use systematic deduction to see what heaven, the new Jerusalem, may be like. We have to tread carefully and only bring out what’s in the text. We have to be conscious of how this may interact with the preconceptions that people already have.
We were recently preaching to a group of residents at a rehabilitation center. One of them is a lady who has lived her life in church and was the wife of a Pastor. We preached that the new Jerusalem is a city made out of transparent gold and she burst out “What!” with surprise and incredulity. I read out the pertinent passage in order to be certain. She was devastated to hear that what I said heaven would be like wasn’t the same as the ideas which had already formed in her mind. She stopped coming to our services. People have all kinds of ideas about what heaven will be like. What are we actually told?
Part of the reason for our present emphasis on perspective, and our taking a moment to evaluate whether or not we have sufficient humility before God and reverence for the task in hand, is the date. Today is a special day for two reasons:
- It’s Dad’s birthday,
- 5 years ago today we got fired from the last real job we had.
Parents
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
(Exodus 20:12) KJV
Parents are important. None of us could be who we are without them. Let’s remember the 5th commandment above.
Employment
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(Philippians 4:6) KJV
We’re not sure if we are unemployed, self-employed or retired. We’ve adapted to a way of life which is nothing short of miraculous. It meant that we were ready for the disruption of COVID-19. Thanks be to God.
Perspective – Navigation
| Section | Title | Scripture |
| 1 | Perspective | 1 Corinthians 1:25 |
| 1.2 | Absolute Frame of Reference | Ezra 2:68-69 |
| 2 | Former Things Have Passed Away | Revelation 21:3-4 |
| 2.1 | There was Never, Ever, Nothing | Colossians 1:16-17 |
| 2.2 | The Word is Water | Genesis 1:1-2 |
| 2.3 | I’m Not a Scientist… | 1 Timothy 6:20-21 |
| 2.4 | God the Son | 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 |
| 3 | Hypothesis 18 | John 1:1-5, 14 |
| 3.1 | In the beginning | John 1:1-2 |
| 3.2 | All things were made through him | John 1:3 |
| 3.3 | In him was life | John 1:4 |
| 3.4 | Darkness comprehended it not | John 1:5 |
| 3.5 | The word was made flesh | John 1:14 |
| Salvation | Romans 10:9-10 |
Salvation
- Call upon the name of Jesus Christ,
- believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
- confess your sin.
Read through the Bible in a year
| Reading plan | December 11 | |
| Linear | Titus 2-3 Philemon | |
| Chronological | Romans 14-16 |
Matty's Paradigm 