April 9, 2012 – Isaiah 42

Verse 20 – You see many things but do not observe; ears open, but do not hear.  I think this says a lot about the time in which we live.  We know so much, our technology is advancing, medical breakthroughs are happening every day, but what do we gain.  We often get those emails with the long list of things like “More conveniences, but less time.” type things.  I found the following example called “The Paradox of our Time”.  There were several versions when you type it into Google.  They basically follow the theme of the verse.  We are have our eyes and ears open, but we aren’t listening or hearing anything.  We are so focused on “progress” as the world sees it we are not interested in the regression that is taking place on the invisible realm of our souls and our minds.  Everything in the world is going in one direction, and will continue, but we are told that we are not of the world.  We need to watch that we do not get caught up in the race that will only end in defeat and make sure we stay on the path that leads to eternal life.  Every step forward the material world makes (in most cases) tells the world that religion is obsolete and ancient.  If that is so true, why are these paradoxes so obvious. 

 

THE PARADOX OF OUR TIMES

Is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers

Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints

We spend more, but we have less.

We have bigger houses, but smaller families

More conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less sense

More knowledge, but less judgment

More experts, but more problems

More medicines, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often

We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life.

We have added years to life, but not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back

But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We have conquered outer space, but not inner space.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul.

We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We've higher incomes, but lower morals.

We've become long on quantity but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men, and short character;

Steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare,

More leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorces;

Of fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in t

he show window, and nothing in the stockroom.