Shocking Numbers
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1
When I read the Moving Mountains devotion (copyright 2011), I physically reacted to the facts they presented. I am sure the numbers are much higher now but get ready for an initial shock!
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Amazing Fact: By the time the average American turns 65, he or she has spent nine years watching television.
The numbers are astounding. People in America watch a lot of TV. The research is quite extensive. The average American watches about four hours of television a day, which amounts to about two months of straight TV watching each year.
And television aren’t little boxes anymore! Whereas TVs used to be 18 inches by 30 inches, the average size of a TV these days is 46 inches with some people estimating that by 2015 the average TV will be 60 inches! And it’s all in high definition now, so everything looks so real.
This means that by the time a child departs elementary school and has witnessed 8,000 murders on TV, 200,000 acts of violence by the time they’re 18, every single scene will have been as about as realistic as it can get—in true-to-reality, high-definition 60-inch television.
This is not meant to scare you into throwing out your TV. It’s a simple reality check. Paul writes in positive terms: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Thus, we are encouraged to spend our time—maybe even more than nine years—looking into the face of Christ. Because when we look at Jesus through the Word of God, we are transformed into His beautiful, compassionate, and loving image.
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Wow! We have lost some serious time here. This truly is a reality check. What are we allowing our children /grands to see and how much time are they spending with the big box? What are we doing with our time? Maybe we better do an inventory of how we spend our time. Find a quiet place and enjoy Him.
Heavenly Father, our hearts are full of gratitude for the patience You show us. Help us to be better stewards of our time and give us a deeper desire to spend time with You. AMEN.
Photo: Michael Johnston