Here is an optical illusion that baffles the mind.
Believe it or not, even though it appears to be wobbly,
every line is perfectly parallel.
What I want you to do is give this a lot more significance
by supplying a theological lesson.
How could we use this to begin a Bible study?
Hmm. I don't think this is a very good one, but I'll try...
ReplyDeleteEven when everything looks out of control or messed up, be it in the world, in trials, whatever, God is in control, and He is working all things together for good to those who love Him.
Ehh, I tried.
In order that his message may reach a larger audience Harold the camper converts his dooms day calculation in to art.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of how we see God. You get too close it's all fuzzy and you're confused. Take a step back and things straighten themselves out.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens if you read too much Rob Bell. What is clear and straight in Scripture becomes fuzzy and woozy.
ReplyDeleteThis is a picture of Providence. It's confusing, making you unsure of what's exactly right, but when it is all laid out, the wonder of His Purpose is revealed.
ReplyDeleteThe gospel in and of itself is perfect as it is. It has no flaws nor any contradictions. However, as men being well intention or no begin to add to or color the gospel in any way it can appear to those looking on that the gospel is a mass of confusion and chaos. When in reality the gospel itself has never changed.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous - "Harold the camper", BAHAT! That was funny.
ReplyDelete[Harold the Camper says] "Excuse me ... the mesage can change from time to time as long as I say so."
@Michael Wright - good illustration.
Read and pray until you get the meaning of the text as the author intended it and the audience (recipients) understood it.
ReplyDeleteI actually did use a previous optical illusion I found here, the one with the checker board, part in shadow, where the colors are all the same even though they look different. Anyway, used it for our children one Sunday and it went over well. This would be similar, the idea of not trusting our eyes, our own judgment, but trusting God's Word, etc. Although I do like Persis' take on it!
ReplyDeleteFocusing on the points and colors that may seem to us to be very important, but not to the extent that the precise grid of the Gospel becomes distorted.
ReplyDeleteAnd when we get confused and find that our view is distorted, a return to the straight lines of doctrine will reveal our fallen condition and how it seeks to infiltrate even our most basic understanding.
The corners are still straight. Like the Corner Stone. He keeps us straight.
How's that?
I think it can illustrate our own ignorance and the inerrancy of scripture in that when we find a difficult passage of scripture that seems to contradict other parts of scripture, we should know that it is not scripture that is flawed but rather our own fallen perception. Your thoughts?
ReplyDelete@Andrew - BINGO!!!!!! Well said!
ReplyDeleteThought of this on the way into work this morning -- it could be a good illustration for a study on Prov. 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." Human perception of reality is corrupted by the Fall, and we are unable to see the right way without the illumination of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14).
ReplyDelete