It has been my observation — At some point in our spiritual life, we all develop a world view. Simply stated, our world view is the perspective that defines how we observe and understand things around us. (implied in Exodus 9:16). Our world view sets the assumptions and perceptions we use to evaluate, understand ourselves, and assess our experiences. Our worldview is the blended composite of our church view, social view, family view, friendship choices, historical view, cultural view, personal view, job view, and our personality characteristics (implied in Jeremiah 29:11).

Our worldview influences everything we say and do (Proverbs 19:21). At its core, there are two basic paths for a world view — theistic or nontheistic. For those who know Jesus, the theistic worldview comes from scripture. The Bible presents a clear definition of the one true living God and sets out a powerful set of life principles used by Jesus to shape our life. The nontheistic worldview comes from all things secular. Often it becomes a life that gradually declines to quiet despair.

For example, Bertrand Russell, a true atheist, described his worldview as: “Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hope and fears, his loves and beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labors of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius are destined to extinction.”

Russell clearly holds a pragmatic view of life without God and defines the classic world view of an atheist. Russell said — we are a product of the causation we encounter in life. God says in Jeremiah 29:11 (paraphrased) — I have plans for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God says in Psalms 139:16 (paraphrased)– Your eyes saw me as a mere man in my unformed body before I was born; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of those days came to be. Russell said — we are an accidental collection of Atoms. God said in Jeremiah 1:5 — Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. God said in Isaiah 44:2 – He who knew you before creation, made you, formed you in the womb, is He who will help you now. Russell said — Our labor is destined to extinction. God said in John 15:16 — You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

What do we do with all of this? We pay attention to the things and people that are important to us, we pay attention to how those things and people INTEGRATE with each other (cohesive set of values). We pay attention to how those things and people honor God.

Paul says — Do not conform to the pattern of this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to evaluate and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12: 1-2). Without cohesion between the various elements of our worldview, we will keep bumping into conflict and friction as we wrestle with the correct approach for today’s troubles (1 Peter 1:14, Psalms 51:10). Paul Continues – There will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching; but will fill up on spiritual junk food. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on Jesus  (2 Timothy 4:3-4 paraphrased). One thing is clear,  we are all a work in progress. We need to know God’s Word, measure all we hear with God’s book, only breathe in the message that resonates with Scripture. Pay attention to the details. Never turn from Scripture.

I choose Jesus.