Reality and Experience

These two things are not synonymous. Reality is not determined by what is experienced. And what we experience isn't always a product of reality. Because I'm a word freak, I will give you the definition of reality, because that will make what I'm trying to say make sense (I hope).

Reality:
- something that truly exists
- something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive
- something that constitutes a real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent

For those of us who believe in God and have put our hope and trust for salvation and life in Jesus Christ, we know that there is "something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive", namely, God himself - who he is, what he says and what he does. God is reality. Therefore, the things that we believe because we know God, are the things that make up our reality. These are the "things that constitute the real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent". The things that are merely apparent are the things that can be seen.

The problem is, however, that if we look at around us, the things we see can be perceived as reality. In fact, the things we perceive through the normal 5 senses are how we have been taught to experience the world. If we can see, taste, smell, hear, and feel something, then we believe that it must be "real". And likewise, if we can't see, feel, taste, hear, smell it, if it isn't part of our experience, then it is not "real". The danger in this is that we begin to believe that what we experience determines what we think is reality, instead of the other way around.

For the Christian, it has to be the other way around. Reality (God himself and what he says is true) must determine what we experience. For example, if I know that God loves me no matter what, I can experience his love even if those around me are not treating me in a loving way. If we are basing what we think is real on what we experience, the bad behavior of those around us can lead us to believe that we are not lovable, or worse, that God is not loving.

May the truth and reality become more and more what you experience every day. Part of this process is becoming more and more aware of what the truth is. Get to know God. Get to know his word. You may be surprised by what reality, in reality, is real.