Have you ever heard someone downplay the significance of a proposed action saying that a year from now it won’t matter, or 10 years, or 100 years, or more? This is illogical thinking. If you are the captain of a boat and you make a change in course it will have little immediate effect on your position, but the more time that passes on the new course, the further you are from where you would have been otherwise. Do you understand that you own actions are the same way, that they have effects that extend into the future?

Who do you think of as the light of the world? Does this phrase make you think of me? The Bible makes this statement, but in the same Bible I make the statement that you are the light of the world. Do you find this confusing? Could both be true? If so, consider what a strong statement this is. The same Bible tells you to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify me, so this is an important concept. Have you given deliberate thought as to what your light consists of, and taken intentional action to let it shine?

Do you know the truth? I spoke to the religious leaders of my day and told them that if they continued in my word that they would know the truth and the truth would make them free. They were offended by this because in their own estimation they already knew the truth, and I was suggesting that they did not. On another occasion I was asked by a group if they were blind also. Consider how odd this question is, and my answer that they were blind because they claimed to see. Can you appreciate the paradox that knowing the truth means realizing how much you do not know?

Are you familiar with the concept of intellectual property rights? Authors copyright their works to maintain control over their distribution and royalties. Things that are not under copyright are referred to as public domain. How do you see the concept of truth? Authors are entitled to control their works and derive any income from them, but having said that, is it possible to maintain control over the truth? Truth is inherently public domain and no one person or even group can exercise control over it. Beware of those who claim to have private truth.