Go ahead. Scroll to the end, you know that’s the only reason you clicked on this link. But be sure to come back to learn why I posted this shocking picture…
Kind of disappointing wasn’t it?
But it is likely only one of several disappointments that you’ve had today, by clicking on the hundreds of other links that promised something shocking—only to reveal something that only mildly shocks you.
So why do we click on these articles? Is it because of the challenge? Do we want to prove to the dude writing the article is wrong. That, “No, in fact, I do believe this preposterous thing that you just presented”. Or do we click on these articles because deep down we want to be shocked again.
You remember the awe you felt as a child when your grandpa would do something silly like set up a stack of dominos and make them all fall. Or you remember the wonder of getting an order of Scholastic books delivered to your 4th grade class room, opening up your book on presidential trivia, and almost peeing your pants reading stories about William Taft getting stuck in a bathtub. Every day seemed to have at least one “you won’t believe this…” hidden somewhere for you to unravel.
Not anymore.
You’re seasoned now. You’ve seen dominoes fall. Presidential facts bore you. Few things truly shock you.
But deep down you still want to be shocked. And so you hope that maybe you really will be shocked by those 42 photos that aren’t actually photoshopped. You click on the link. You skim through—waiting for the shock—and nothing happens.
You die a little each time you click these links. I know that sounds dramatic—maybe even shocking—but I’m serious. With each empty promise you start to believe the lie that you can’t be shocked anymore.
That’s not a dangerous thing when we are talking about YouTube videos and silly article on Facebook. But it is dangerous when we are talking about grace. It’s dangerous when we are no longer shocked by grace. It’s dangerous when we aren’t shocked that hearts still choose empty cisterns over fountains of living water. It’s dangerous when we aren’t shocked by a God that joyously pursues a bloody death on a cross to redeem these same cistern-choosing sinners.
Friends, if we really want to be shocked let us feast on the inexhaustible and utterly shocking gospel. Let us read God’s Word with the same astonishment and wonder. You aren’t going to believe what God says to you in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. You won’t believe the depth of depravity in Judges.
Pursue being shocked, by that.
Not by this. A guinea pig with a pepper hat:
Great post–May the Lord keep us from mixing the trivial with the Triumphant!
(Also–good call with the guinea pig with the pepper hat over the overplayed cat-with-the-lime-helmet.)