Yo-yo Gospel

When I was in Primary School during the yo-yo years of the 1970s, I was the proud owner of a Coca Cola yo-yo.   I could do all sorts of tricks with it.   It was made of glass, was a good weight and felt great in the hand.   Other kids had yo-yos too, but no-one had a Coca Cola yo-yo like mine.   I was generous and shared it around, letting others use it.  Some could also do tricks, and I liked to see the delight on their faces when they used the glass Coca Cola yo-yo.  For them, it was like getting off a skateboard and onto a hoverboard.   The glass yo-yo was very advanced compared with the common plastic models!   Many kids liked it, but one lusted after it - he had an unhealthy desire to own it.

One day, my yo-yo was stolen when I was at school.   I knew who stole my yo-yo.   He'd lusted after it for weeks.   He claimed to be my friend.   He also claimed his dad bought him a Coca-Cola yo-yo on the day mine was stolen.   Although I was only 8 years old, I understood the concept of James' explanation of unchecked temptation leading to death:

... each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.   Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  (James 1:14-15 NIV)

In Genesis 4:7, God addressed Cain on the topic of sin and temptation:

... if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. (NIV)

Sadly, Cain was only walking in the steps of his parents who failed to resist temptation in Genesis 3 and caused a severed relationship from God for all of mankind (the fall).

Todd Friel (of Wretched Radio) has an analogy that explains how Genesis 3, an ancient chinese toy and the theft of my yo-yo in 1977 all link together. 

You can see his presentation here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrNNpUmK_TQ

As you watch this presentation, remember the key words:  severed relationship and fall.

It's another great analogy for the tool-kit!

Not this kind of yo-yo!

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Unusually, I am referencing Alice Through the Looking Glass 2 weeks in a row!   Last week was a reference to Humpty Dumpty, and this week I want to comment on a quote of time Personified, or the Anthropomorphism of time by Lewis Carroll.   In fact, I will argue that Carroll actually even attempts to deify time.

Mr. Time (Time) is the antagonistic character in the story Alice Through the Looking Glass.   Some might argue that the Red Queen is the antagonist, but I beg to differ:   the Red Queen is simply a grumpy, badly behaved, hard-hearted, jilted Princess who just wants to know she is loved by her sister, the White Queen;  Mr. Time, however, puts himself in the position of God Almighty, controlling eternity and without whom the world as Alice knows it would not exist.

The most profound and telling statement from Mr. Time is heard when he introduces the Grand Clock:  

The heart clock

"He is me and I am he",

(displaying his heart clock at the same time).   Is he claiming to be God?

There is none like God Almighty.   He is the Alpha and Omega.  

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev 1:8 NASB)

He always was and always will be. 

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"  (Exo 3:14 NASB)

God co-exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  They are individual entities, yet they are One.  

Mr. Time thinks he is immortal, but he is not.   His world begins to unravel as Alice travels back through time itself, and life is sucked out of him.

Yet in comparison, Jesus said of Himself,

I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.  No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. (John 10:17b-18a NET)

There was nothing that Mr. Time could do to save himself or give life to others, but Jesus says in Revelation 21:6,

I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. (Rev 21:6 NASB)

and even whilst He was being crucified on the cross, He gave life to others:

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43 NIV)

So what's the problem with time personified and Alice Through the Looking Glass?   Isn't it just a harmless children's animation?

The Grand Clock

Carm.org says about cults:

From the view of Christianity a cult distorts the doctrines that affect salvation sufficiently to cause it to be unattainable.

Time personified would have everyone believe that he is in control of destiny and chooses the time of death of each and every individual; that he is immortal and can not die.

Other world religions also twist the truth of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.   All are man-made; none have been instituted by God Almighty whose plan from eternity past was for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  

Jesus is the only immortal man who has existed from eternity-past and has demonstrated His authority to lay down His life and to take it up again.   Hope can only be found in Him.

Alice Through the Looking Glass reminds us to test all concepts against scripture and to be aware of teachings that may lead us away from the Word of God.