The Bible is the Ultimate reality Check

Have you ever thought about what reality actually is? 

The dictionary defines it as "the world or state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea about them." 

But here's the thing…all of us live by stories that help us make sense of life's big questions: 

Who are we? Where do we come from? What's our purpose?

There are countless stories out there today. We could call them worldviews. America has its story:  The American Dream, that promises prosperity through hard work. Baltimore has its own narrative – a story of surviving the streets and escaping if you can.

But what if I told you the Bible offers an alternative story? And not just any alternative…a superior one.

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Knowledge Doesn't Equal Belief

In John 5:38-40, Jesus says something fascinating: "You don't have his words residing in you, because you don't believe the one he sent. You pore over the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life."

Jesus wasn't talking to casual readers. He was addressing people who had literally memorized the first five books of the Bible! Yet despite their incredible knowledge, Jesus essentially told them, "You don't understand what you're reading."

How is that possible? Because knowledge doesn't automatically equal belief.

For many of us, Jesus becomes like a roommate who lives in our heart. Have you ever had a family member come stay at your place? They move their stuff in, but the expectation is that they adjust to your way of doing things, right?

That's how we often treat Jesus:

"Jesus, you can stay here, but forgiveness? You'll have to leave that somewhere else because we don't roll like that where I'm from."

"Jesus, you can stay here, but my life is my life, you're just here for my comfort."

Real belief in Jesus means trusting what He says over our own instincts.

You Can't Make the Bible Work for You

It's so tempting to bend the Bible to fit our needs. We think:

• "I want to do better at work... I'll just read the Bible."

• "I want to find a companion... I'll just read the Bible."

• "I want my business to succeed... I'll just read the Bible."

But Jesus says we're missing the point. We pour over Scripture looking for the magic formula, the right words, while overlooking that it's all about Him.

The Bible isn't a tool for your agenda. It's not primarily about information…it's about Jesus!

The cold Reality

"But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life." (John 5:40)

Many of us reject Jesus simply because we don't want to accept reality. We're so committed to the stories we've been told all our lives that we reject what Jesus offers, even when it harms us.

Remember John 3:19? "This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil."

If you've read through the Bible, you've seen how the Bible shows messy, fearful, arrogant humans making the same mistakes again and again. That's who we are! The Bible is a mirror showing us ourselves.

When Reality Gets Distorted

On January 26th, 2020, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi were killed in a helicopter crash. 

Many investigators believe it was due to spatial disorientation. That’s when a pilot flying in low visibility cannot see the horizon and their senses conflict with reality.

As one pilot explained, "When you are flying and you cannot see, you don't know where you are. There are no visual cues, so you are relying on your inner ear. You don't know if up is down or down is up."

The human body was made for the ground. Without a horizon for reference, a pilot's inner ear can be deceived into feeling they're flying straight when they're actually turning, and descent can be perceived as level flight.

Proverbs 14:12 puts it perfectly: "There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death."

The Instrument of Truth

We read the Bible for reality. 

It's the instrument that shows us how things really are in the world and in life. The stories we tell ourselves and the narratives we believe can distort our vision.

Don't trust your limited perception. Place your trust in the everlasting, unfailing words of Jesus.

If Scripture is going to abide in you, you have to align yourself with it – not the other way around.

What stories have you been living by? Have you allowed Jesus to reshape your reality? Share your thoughts in the comments below!