What’s a “Paradigm Shift?”
The film Planet of the Apes (1968) stars Charleton Heston as Taylor, an astronaut who awakens from deep space travel hibernation to find he has crashed on a planet unknown to him. He discovers the planet is ruled by apes who have learned to speak and possess technology. Taylor is captured by them but escapes and explores the planet more fully. Outside the ape city he discovers remnants of a previous but destroyed civilization. Eventually he stumbles upon something familiar. Oh no! Can it Be? Taylor had never left earth orbit at all! He had not travelled through space but through time–to the future. This planet was earth!
In an instant an entirely new world view is thrust upon Taylor. He has no choice but to accept it. I fear this is the fate soon to be thrust upon many who walk this earth today.
During the 18th century and beyond The Great Awakening, spurred by the Spirit empowered preaching of men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, transformed the hearts and minds of many. Eyes were opened to see the true spiritual realities of their existence. Heaven and hell, justification through Christ or eternal damnation, these were the issues of this brief thing we call a lifetime. Souls are eternal. Decisions must be made.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6). Many today discount this. They say Christ was just a man, and they build their philosophy of life on other notions. But the Christian knows that a day is coming a day in which
“at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10-11).
What Taylor experienced is a “paradigm shift.” What every soul upon coming to Christ experiences is also a “paradigm shift.” One discovers that their whole way of thinking about the world, the universe, life and death is inaccurate and must be abandoned. God is staring them in the face, they surrender and are transformed! This is what happened during the Great Awakening and this is what happens in the honest transformations that result from true spiritual Revival.
Open your heart to Christ today! Don’t be like the one who spends all of his life climbing higher and higher on some ladder of success only to discover that the ladder has all the while been leaning against the wrong wall!
Press on…
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thebrokenrunner 
Well written John. Thank you.
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