Deceptive but True … Beyond Tragedy
Gordon Sumner (“Sting“) of the band “The Police” wrote this great song “Message in a Bottle” about ALIENATION, SEPARATION, DESPAIR, HOPE, RESCUE and “REDEMPTION”, human LONGING and LACKING, “POSSIBILITY” in the face of seeming “IMPOSSIBILITY”.
The instinct for FULFILLMENT despite our FLAWS …
Does this “MESSAGE” or “STORY” sound FAMILIAR?
“LOST” HUMANITY, CASTAWAYS IN NEED OF “RESCUE“, SEPARATED AND STUCK IN “THE HERD” OF HUMANITY, …
… YET DOOMED TO ISOLATION and ALIENATION, DESERTED “ISLANDS” ISOLATED and “SHIPWRECKED” IN THE “VOYAGE” OF LIFE, …
… SENDING OUT AN “S.O.S.”, a SIGN of DISTRESS in a LIFE-OR-DEATH, ETERNAL STRUGGLE FOR “SURVIVAL” …
The BIBLICAL PROPHET ISAIAH CHARACTERIZED HUMANITY AS LOST SHEEP GONE ASTRAY, …
… CONFUSED, CLUELESS and PUZZLED AS THEY WANDER DOWN THEIR OWN “SINFUL”, SELF-GUIDED, PUZZLED and CONFUSED “PATH” of LIFE. (ISAIAH 53) …
… “CASTAWAYS” LOST IN OUR “LIFE VOYAGE”, SHEEP IN SORE NEED of a SHEPHERD …
… TO GUIDE THEM TO A PLACE THEY INSTINCTUALLY SENSE and SEARCH FOR BUT NEVER SEEM TO FIND …
Which leads to a bigger question of “WORLD VIEW” …
Is this life CHANCE CIRCUMSTANCE in a COLD, CRUEL WORLD of RANDOM ACCIDENT, a seeming SELF-CONTAINED cosmos of UN-EXPLAINED NOTHINGNESS …
… a FREAK-ish “MIRAGE” of MEANING …
“REFUGEES” caught in between TWO OBLIVIONS of “beginning” and end … NIHILISTIC NOTHINGNESS?…
OR
Was humanity CREATED, DESIGNED and PURPOSED this way? …
… OUR “TRAGIC” NEED OF “RESCUE” AND “REDEMPTION“, SEEMINGLY POSSIBLE BUT HOPELESS N THE FACE OF OUR OWN “SHEEP-LIKE” SELF-GUIDED REALITY, …
“SALVATION” POSSIBLE ONLY AFTER “SURRENDER” TO GOD’S REALITY, …
… THE CREATION REALIZING ITS FULFILLMENT AND “MEANING” IN ITS CREATOR …
The BIBLE has a “MESSAGE” GOD revealed in a “book”, a LITERARY “BOTTLE” …
The FIRST “MESSAGE” of JESUS, a SHEPHERD TO HIS FLOCK (“CHURCH”), was REPENT (“METANOIA” – CHANGE DIRECTION) and FOLLOW ME (OUR “COMPASS” IN THIS LIFE’S PATH), FOR The KINGDOM of GOD (HIS DISCIPLES’ INTENDED DESTINATION) IS AT HAND …
Think about that as you listen to and reflect upon the “message” of this song …
What is our ultimate “DESTINATION” on this “VOYAGE” of earthly life? DESPAIR or HOPE? … EXTINCTION or TRANSFORMATION? ...
DESTRUCTION (EXTINCTION) IN A “RANDOM ACCIDENT”
OR
“RE-BIRTH” (ANASTASIOS) TOWARDS “DIVINE DESTINY” …
“The UNIVERSE NEXT DOOR” by James Sire is about “WORLD VIEWS”, questions and answers about life’s basic “issues” – cosmology, mortality, epistemology (knowledge), morality (values) and history (time) …
“Sting” obviously did NOT directly write this song about the Bible, BUT its themes are indeed “Biblical”.
Does the BIBLE’s “MESSAGE” make “SENSE” out of a seemingly “SENSE-LESS” world? …
The Bible “message” is “GOOD NEWS” of “RESCUE” and “REDEMPTION” to “CASTAWAYS” LOST in this earthly voyage of life,
… strange, unique, “amphibious” creatures caught between TIME and ETERNITY, CREATION in need of its CREATOR!
What exactly are the MESSAGE[s] in the song?
Is there a HUMAN “CURE” or “SOLUTION”for “ALIENATION” and/or “LONELINESS“?
To what extent are we “ALONE“?
What exactly EXPLAINSthis situation?
Were we BORN with a “HOLE” in our “HEART” that needs to be “FILLED”? Is “ALIENATION” ARBITRARY “feelings”, OR BUILT INTO us “CREATURES” by our “CREATOR”?
Does the Utopian World View of Humanity VAINLY IMAGINE a “CURE” for “LONELINESS”, ALIENATION and SEPARATION, that is INSTINCTUALLY BORN and BUILT INTO we human CREATURES by its CREATOR?
Are HUMAN attempts at “SALVATION” and “HEAVEN ON EARTH” DOOMED to NARCISSISM and NIHILISTIC “NOTHINGNESS”? …
… BORN ALONE in “SIN”, in an existential state of “SEPARATION” from OUR CREATOR?
… with NO true, lasting earthly “CURE” for “OUR HUMAN DISEASE” … NO earthly ANSWERS to existential, “cosmic” QUESTIONS …
JOHN LENNON IMAGINES “UTOPIA” BY IGNORING REALITY …
UTOPIA LITERALLY MEANS “NOWHERE” …
TRAGIC “DYSTOPIA” STARES US ALL IN the FACE …
IF HUMANITY DID NOT KILL EACH OTHER FOR THE REASONS LENNON CRITICIZED, THEY WOULD FIND ANOTHER REASON TO KILL …
THE MORE ACCURATE and FACTUAL PROPHETIC MODEL for the “FUTURE” is GEORGE ORWELL’S DYSTOPIAN “1984”, NOT UTOPIAN “IMAGINE”. (OR EVEN “YELLOW SUBMARINE”)
GOD is the ultimate “BENEATH and BEYOND” ...
What is the basic “story” of Biblical “HIStory”? …
INSTEAD OF WORSHIPING THE ONE, TRUE GOD (THE FIRST COMMANDMENT), HUMANITY CONSTANTLY SUBSTITUTES “IDOLS” IN GOD’S PLACE (THE SECOND COMMANDMENT) …
The “CHOICE”: SERVE GOD or WORSHIP IDOLS (God substitutes)
HUMAN NATURE IS INHERENTLY “RELIGIOUS” …
THE RELIGIOUS “INSTINCT” IS BUILT INTO OUR NATURE BY OUR CREATOR …
Humanity vainly IMAGINEs “feelings” of “possibilities” which are “NOWHERE”, IGNORING the “facts” of “limitations”, “sin”, dysfunction and dystopia everywhere.
The first “set” of God’s divinely constructed “Commandments” were broken by Moses.
“SIN” IS A REALITY IN THIS “TRAGIC” WORLD.
The First Commandment is to serve and worship the ONE true God. The Second Commandment warns against IDOLATRY.
When humanity ignores the First Commandment, the Second Commandment warning applies.
The“CHOICE” is NOT between “A” religion and “NO” religion.
The choice is between one or an “alternative” god which which can manifest itself in innumerable ways.
The religion of NO religion IS a religion.
“Liberal” religion is arguably the fastest growing “religion” today.
WHICH “GOD[S]” WILL YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE?
LIKE THE BOB DYLAN SONG SAYS, WE ALL “SERVE SOMEBODY” …
Helaire Belloc:
“MEN DO NOT LIVE LONG WITHOUT GODS”
When the GODS of the NEW PAGANISM come they will not be merely INSUFFICIENT, as were the gods of Greece, nor merely FALSE; they will be EVIL.
The“New” worship, FOOLISHLY EXPECTING satisfaction, will FALL inevitably FALL into IDOL (or satan) WORSHIP”
REDEMPTION REVEALED … DECEPTIVE BUT TRUE …
BEYOND TRAGEDY
Is “Message in a Bottle” hopeful or hopeless?
This song/”message” is not “X-TREME” enough! It does not go DEEP or “BENEATH” enough …
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF OUR HUMAN “SINFUL” PREDICAMENTAND WHO OR WHAT CAN “FIX” IT FOR “REFUGEES” IN NEED OF “RESCUE”?
Is our human, earthly “path” an ultimately NARCISSISTIC, NIHILISTIC “path” of HOPELESS-ness, DEATH and DESPAIR.
We humans are in sore NEED of “REDEMPTION” and “SALVATION”.
Most people DECEIVE THEMSELVES.
“But I’m a good person”.
If humanity is essentially “good”, what EXPLAINS the sorry state of this world? What exactly is “the problem”? Is humanity in DENIALof the true state of this world and our human predicament?
This world in its current state was “created good”, but SOMETHINGwent tragically wrong (“sin”) along the way.
DECEPTION, DENIAL, DYSFUNCTION and DYSTOPIA is the current “NORM” of THIS WORLD.
We are ALL “LOST SHEEP”, REFUGEES and CASTAWAYS in the “VOYAGE of LIFE”.
THE “PROBLEM” IS FAR WORSE THAN ANY OF US FULLY COMPREHEND …
On the other “X-treme”, the Biblical message describes a CURE, a message of “GOOD NEWS”!
Our “KINSMAN REDEEMER” provided a way of REDEMPTION and RESCUE to “LOST SHEEP” in need of a SHEPHERD.
The “SOLUTION”is far BETTER, delivered in a “MESSAGE” that has be divinely, super-naturally REVEALED.
GOD’s has a “MESSAGE” of “SIN” and “SALVATION” in a “BOTTLE” (Bible)
“RECEPTION” is the “issue”.
Jesus told a parable of a social gathering where a sad song or dirge was played and no one mourned. A happy, joyous songwas also played and nobody danced and celebrated.
The first lesson of the disciple (learner) is the Parable of the SOWER.
“DEEP calls unto DEEP” and HIS SHEEP know their SHEPHERD’s voice.
THIS WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE EITHER TRAGIC “EXTREME” – HOW UNBELIEVABLY SAD, TRAGIC AND HOPELESS THE “PROBLEM” (BENEATH) IS AND HOW UNBELIEVABLY GREAT AND HOPEFUL THE “SOLUTION” (BEYOND) IS.
Ultimately, GOD is truly the only thing “BENEATH” and “BEYOND” us all … GOD’s “REALITY” is “DECEPTIVE, YET TRUE” … BEYOND TRAGEDY …
“Why do the heathen RAGE, and the people IMAGINE a VAIN thing?” (Psalm 2)
GOD will [ultimately] “LAUGH in derision” at LOST SHEEP who follow and serve “idols” (God substitutes) and fail to see and serve The SHEPHERD, a king REJECTED by his “own” and murdered by enemies in “defeat”, but the perfect “suffering servant” RISEN in victory to fulfill DIVING DESTINY in HIS-story of RESCUE, RE-BIRTH (anastasios) and REDEMPTION BEYOND TRAGEDY …
The RESURRECTION is a FACT of history.
God used “nature” to reveal his “supernatural” (literally morenatural) message, doing the UNEXPECTED – surprising and mocking humanity – JEWS, ROMANS and [initially] HIS OWN FOLLOWERS …. the ultimate SIGN pointing HIS “HAND of CONTROL” and “FINGERPRINTS” all over “this world”, pointing to “the world next” – HIS KINGDOM ruled by its destined King …
That is the true, meaning and message of “HIS-tory BENEATH and BEYOND”, the deeper, REAL “MESSAGE[s]” in a “BOTTLE” and/or BIBLE …
GOD REVEALED THE BIBLICAL “STORY” AND HISTORY OF HUMANITY THROUGH HIS PEOPLE (ISRAEL) AND ITS KING, THE “SEED OF WOMAN” AND KING MESSIAH-DELIVERER, THE “LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH”!
THIS WORLD IS IN DENIAL.
GOD’S “REALITY” AND REVELATION OF “HIS-STORY” IS DECEPTIVE, BUT TRUE …
GOD’S ANSWERS, HIS “GOOD NEWS” (MESSAGE) AND A “HAPPY ENDING” LIE BEYOND TRAGEDY …
(Check out “Israel – God’s Hand in History” in the “God Trilogy” elsewhere on this website or at
)
www.HistoryXtreme.com
www.Anastasios-USA.com
www.SlavicSocrates.com
www.AgogeInstitute.com
“MESSAGE in a BOTTLE”
by “The Police”
Just a CASTAWAY
An ISLAND LOST at sea
Another LONELY day
With NO ONE HERE BUT ME
More LONELINESS
Than any man could BEAR
RESCUE ME BEFORE I FALL into DESPAIR
I’ll send an SOS to the WORLD
I hope that someone gets my
MESSAGE in a bottle
A year has passed since I wrote my note
But I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN this right from the start
Only HOPE can keep me together
LOVE can MEND your life
But love can BREAK your heart
I’ll send an SOS to the world
I HOPE that someone gets my
Message in a bottle
Oh, message in a bottle. Message in a bottle
Walked out this morning
Don’t believe what I saw
A HUNDRED BILLION BOTTLES
Washed up on the shore
Seems I’m NOT ALONE at BEING
A HUNDRED BILLION CASTAWAYS
LOOKING for a HOME
I’ll send an SOS to the world
I HOPE that someone gets my
Message in a bottle
Sending out an SOS…
“ALIENATION” REACTION”:
1)Is this song “HOPEFUL” OR “HOPELESS”?
2)Are human beings essentially “SOCIAL” or “ANTI-SOCIAL” creatures?
3)IS ALIENATION “EXCEPTIONAL” for SOME OR “UNIVERSAL” for ALL?
4)HOW is it that in a planet of 8 BILLION people we feel “ALONE”?
(“no one here but me”). Is “loneli-ness” the SAME THING as being “alone”?
5)WHY do people constantly feel “loneli-ness”? “REFUGEES” escaping, in need of RESCUE, LOOKING for a HOME? (our “utopian” nature?)
Is ALIENATION and/or “loneliness” a PERMANENT “EXISTENTIAL” HUMAN state that can be “relieved” BUT NEVER be FULLY “FIXED”? (our “tragic” nature)
6)Is there a “CURE” or “SOLUTION” for “LONELINESS”? To what extent are we “ALONE”?
7)C.S. LEWIS asks were we BORN with a “HOLE” in our “HEART” that needs to be “FILLED”? Is “alienation” arbitrary “feelings”, OR built into us “creatures” by our “Creator”?
8)Do Utopians IMAGINE a “cure” for “loneliness”?
Utopians vainly IMAGINE “feelings” of “possibilities” which are “nowhere”, IGNORING the “facts” of “limitations”, dysfunction and dystopia everywhere.
Do “the Tragic” realize we are BORN ALONE? We have no true “cure” for “our human disease”.
“BENEATH AND BEYOND” ? …
Instead of worshiping the one, true God (the First Commandment), humanity constantly SUBSTITUTES “idols” in God’s place (the Second Commandment).
Ultimately, God is truly the only thing “beneath” and “beyond” us all … “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?”
God will [ultimately] “LAUGH in derision” at us LOST SHEEP who fail to see The SHEPHERD.
Is that the true meaning of ‘HISTORY”, the deeper, REAL”message” in a “bottle” and/or Bible?