An Imaginary Momentum

I was recently watching this documentary about a music festival that never was. It shows how so many people fell into this monetary trap based on social media and FOMO(fear of missing out) advertisement. Men and women spent thousands of dollars on a make-believe lifestyle party represented by doctored media of what-could-be.

Other than being terrible proof of what our sinfulness can turn us into as we lead others astray (I'm speaking of the man who put it together), it caused me to think about the imaginary momentum our generation is living in. Driven only by what we see and not by factual, personal experiences. We press on to this dream that has been painted in front of us. The vision of a life well-lived by the fleeting passions of this world. We are gratified by the unfulfilling joy of the nonexistent.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

I look at my generation and see most of us running this race in a sort of virtual reality rig that projects us always ahead, winning. Yet we have not moved from the same spot. There's always a next step and another item on our checklist that we must attain in order to move forward. The faster we get to it the more successful we are. Start a profitable 401k plan, go on an exotic trip, get that fancy promotion, lease a new ride, move out of the apartment life and into a house, mortgaged but still ours, start a family, pursue a career, and so and so forth. But is it forward?

How are we moving on to the real-life in heaven if we are so fervent to sprout roots in this world? 

We pursue this without clarity in direction. We become grounded on an evanescent landscape of fictional flora. We retract rather than grow up towards our full potential. How can we call this forward motion, if we are slowly renouncing to eternal glory for the satisfaction and recognition of this life? How are we moving on to the real-life in heaven if we are so fervent to sprout roots in this world? Aren't we stuck here? Must we be pruned? Must our hearts get a thorough check to pick out our earthly desires? I struggle with this. The immediate perception of the delayed truth. A risky venture of rushing river through static rocks.

"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people." 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

This is what Paul wrote to correct what he saw was happening at the church in Corinth then. There was a worldly entanglement among the church. He reminds them about not being of this world as fellow believers but still calls them to be in it. This resembles the many questions Jesus was presented with on paying taxes. To what he responded, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s" - I think this is what they both meant, we must acknowledge this world for what it is, our residence. But we must strive for what is to come, His dwelling place, our citizenship in heaven.

We must not get caught up in the affairs of this world, but look to embody the interest of God in it. 

Jesus came to this world to give himself up that we may not be guilty of sin. That we may not remain entwined to the schemes of the devil. He came to defeat what this world was turning us into that we may be turned into something new. Although we are waiting to attain that perfect status, we are no longer bound by the walls that confined us to death. We have been promised eternal life, one that extends beyond the physical state of this world. Therefore, we must not get caught up in the affairs of this world, but look to embody the interest of God in it while we are still here. It is not for ourselves and what we can gain from this world, but for one another and what the world can gain from us.

Paul tells the Corinthians to abstain from sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, but not to segregate away from those who do not know better and are still shut in those ways. In an age where the ability to live vicariously can be carried in our pockets 24/7, we should stand guard that we do not fall for it. Pressing on to what is to come, as we rescue others along. Restraining from the slowdown from the imaginary momentum, while faithfully trusting the impetus of Jesus Christ's freedom.