Ignoring the Reality We Live In Does Not Fix It

Ignoring the reality we live in does not fix it. The truth shall set us free. In life, being pragmatic and facing the truth carries a high cost (friends, family members, relationships, partners, bad habits, and denying to yourself what you want), but its secondary effects are peace, health, and financial stability. There are universal truths and virtues unaffected by time, space, seasons, society, trends, or the whims of the masses; they were the same in the past, stand firm in the present, and will endure into the future. These laws were created and established by God for our own benefit and as a shield for each one of us. If one is in good health and in full use of their faculties, it is clear that through our senses and by observing actions and reactions, we can detect what is good and what is evil—what is responsible and what is not. If we truly want to do what is correct, we must set our minds to it and understand that what is right must be done, regardless of the outcome. There is no need for academic knowledge to clearly understand the difference between good and evil, nor to accept the responsibility of securing well-being for ourselves and those we care for.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

— John 8:32

Life is not always easy. In fact, there are days when all of us struggle to face the truth. Sometimes it seems easier to disconnect—seeking distraction by hanging out with others, getting lost in screens and hobbies, or going out drinking and partying. In the worst cases, people disconnect from reality through the use of drugs and other substances. Yet, these escapes do not bring peace to our days, health to our bodies, or stability to our finances. They fail to resolve the core of our reality and its challenges, which demand our full attention and a coherent, responsible response.

“We must carefully guard our minds against the false appearances of things, and not allow ourselves to be carried away by them.”

— Epictetus

For those of us who know God and understand what is good, true, and worthy of following, it is clear that this life is temporary and short. To fear and obey God is a must—a moral obligation we hold first out of respect for our Creator, and second for our own well-being. As a consequence, for those who truly want love in their lives, embracing the truth, accepting our responsibilities, and fulfilling our moral obligations will profoundly and positively impact everyone we love who shares in our lives.

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”

— Ecclesiastes 12:13

Those who have read the Bible and possess a clear understanding of good and evil can see that the commandments God has given us are not for His convenience, but for our protection. If you read the Word carefully, you find a loving Father telling you what to avoid so that you do not hurt yourself or those you love. The Creator of the universe is not human; He is entirely unaffected by time and space. Everything communicated in the Bible—before humanity fell out of order and before He removed His physical presence from the human eye—serves as a shield to protect His children. It is profoundly clear that God gifted us with a spirit of power, love, and self-control. It is now up to us to maintain it and honor the nature given to us from birth by our Father.

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

— 2 Timothy 1:7

I know very well how difficult it is to remain humble, especially amidst the clutter that this consumer society has implanted in our minds. We live in a society that is losing its identity—a society where humans are now consuming one another and destroying souls. We have forgotten that we cannot truly create anything; we only use science to understand, explain, and manipulate what God has already provided for us. Everything in the universe is His creation. We are merely children playing with a box of building blocks…. Legos! our Father gave us—a set containing all the pieces needed to build societies, cities, and countries, and to innovate in medicine, science, infrastructure and philosophy in this material world. To all who can see this truth, I invite you to open your eyes, look at the sky, and thank God for all that we have. None of us is alone. Those who walk with God will find the way and the solution to everything, we just need to be thankful for what we have, and embrace God’s commandments, responsibility, discipline and hardwork to reach and achieve what we want, we must set our minds to always do the next right thing according to His commandments no matter the outcome, we must stop thinking on accumulating things from this world, and start trusting that material things are only a consequence for the behavior and actions of those who respect God and only follow what is good true and worthy of trust.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

— Micah 6:8

And yes, we will die. Death smiles at us all, and all we can do is live righteously as God commands, and smile back. At that very last moment when you know you are leaving this life—a moment that arrives for all of us, regardless of nationality, social class, economy, rank, race, or skin color—make sure you can smile. Smile with the peace of knowing that, even though none of us can be perfect, you tried with all your strength, might, and will to follow the instructions of our Heavenly Father.

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.11

Written by: Rhet Arevalo Marini