"Reality Distortion Field"

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson was hard to put down. The story is compelling, inspiring, and sometimes disturbing. He often treated people poorly in his drive for perfection. Yet his intuition, intensity, and focus created a brave new technological world.In describing how he was able to create an amazing future, colleagues spoke of his “Reality Distortion Field.” Steve refused to be controlled by what was real in the present. He saw another reality and, through either charm or coercion, pushed his company toward it.While reading about Steve I was also spending time in the Book of Hebrews. The difference was staggering. Steve focused on creating a perfect product. The saints in Hebrews were focused on perfecting their faith in the midst of very difficult trials. Though the stories are VERY different a common theme struck me—both Steve and the saints lived in light of a strong reality distortion field.If the saints were to remain faithful to Christ despite terrible suffering (see Hebrews 10:32-39) they would have to focus on a future very different from their present. They would have to see the Author and Finisher of their faith (Hebrews 12:2) in a compelling way. They would have to enter Christ’s “Reality Distortion Field.” He is the ultimate change agent. Because of Who He is and what He has done our present reality morphs into something so good we have a hard time imaging it.If the way things are in this present world is all we see, if our sin and our struggles are our focus, we will remain in a reality that ultimately has little to offer. But as we come under the influence of Christ’s distorted reality field we will live into a different future. He distorts our present reality with forgiveness and an eternal future. He gives us a different way of “being” because He offers Himself to us. Because we are IN CHRIST the way we think, feel, evaluate, and behave is being transformed from that which we find in the world to what we find in Him.“Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish” (from Hebrews 12:1 & 2, NLT).