Gravity

Screen capture of an interactive graphic on BBC

We think of the earth beneath our feet as solid, fluctuating between mountains and valleys, oceans and land, but pretty much a ball turning in space among the dancing galaxies.  The view above casts a different shadow.

This graphic is an exaggerated view displayed by those working on Europe’s Goce satellite, according to the BBC article. Here the strength of gravity is shown in different colors – yellow is strongest, blue weakest.  When we speak of ‘sea level,’ even that fluctuates.  The graphic does not display physical reality, of course, but the gravitational differences are real.

BBC says:

“Even so, a boat off the coast of Europe (bright yellow) can sit 180m "higher" than a boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean (deep blue) and still be on the same level plane.

“This is the trick gravity plays on Earth because the space rock on which we live is not a perfect sphere and its interior mass is not evenly distributed.”

Let’s extrapolate a bit and apply that to a Christian’s life.  “The life we live is not perfectly Christian and the commandments are not evenly applied,” although we’re told to strive for that.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2 KJV)

We are a work in progress and are to bear fruit:

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 KJV)

We will find Christians all along that fruitful path, having faith but still learning virtue; having gained knowledge but still working on temperance; some with patience, others with brotherly kindness and still others attaining charity to all.

Achieving that begins with faith, which comes from the word of God.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

And, it is an absolute necessity.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

So, we work at becoming a well-rounded Christian, without the lumpy vision of the exaggerated earth displayed Goce satellite.  I know where some of my failures need work.  Where do you need adjustments?