It's unusual for me to be able to answer the question "What's your favorite. . ." fill in the blank. Food, color, whatever. There is so much that I enjoy that it is hard for me to find anything as "favorite". Much of it, I think, depends on my moods.But I think there is one exception.
Perhaps one of my favorite childhood television shows was "The Twilight Zone". It is unusual that I can tell you that my favorite episode is "The Obsolete Man". There is no question about that. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.
I'll try not to spoil it for anyone (mostly the younger readers) who have not seen this episode. It is about a man who lives in a totalitarian state some time in the future. He has been declared "Obsolete" because he is a librarian. Books have been banned, God has been declared non-existant. And truth is whatever the State says it is by "just-so" declaration. (Starting to sound familiar?).
Because he has been found to be "obsolete", he has been sentenced to death. Perhaps in our society, we'd say he's "useless" therefore he is "post human" and must be "euthanized" (but that is for another discussion).
The State finds humor when the man requests the form of death by which his life will end. And the State is more than happy to oblige.
I'll end there. If you know the story, you already know what happens. If you don't, you can see the episode starting with this clip.
Of course, our world is quickly approaching what we see in "The Obsolete Man". It is so obvious that it would be silly to post anything about it if that were simply my point. In the episode, you can see parallels in our world - the outlawing of truth, the banning of the Bible, the cheapened view of human life. Political Correctness in full, dark bloom.
But, at least in our case, the joke is on the State. See, the "Obsolete Man" is not the one the State is condemning. It is the State itself, for the grand assumption is that "all that there is, is what we can see, feel, hear, taste or touch!". And that is a rope of sand.
What the State in the "Twilight Zone" and the world we live in does not want to recognize is that this life is but a mere vapor. And all the decrees and mandates of this world cannot change that.
So, who is not the "Obsolete Man"? The one who is equipped to live with and serve God forever. Man is building his own kingdom. Even the most mighty of men can only build a temporal kingdom. And all temporal kingdoms will come to an end. In fact, 2 Peter 3:10 tells us how the entire earth shall come to an end - when the Lord stops holding all things together:
"10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." It would be an understatement to say that the Lord will say "Obsolete". The world is everything unrighteous and unholy and in rebellion against anything representing God's Truth. It is utterly condemned.
But God's Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom (Psalm 145:13). Of His kingdom there will be no end. And those who are known by Him will reign with him forever and ever.
May it be so.
