WYSIWYG?

WYSIWYG is a term born in the computer realm that means What You See Is What You Get.  An example is a web page editor.  One type will show you the codes that make the page appear and another, the WYSIWYG one, will show you how it will appear and you can edit that directly and the codes are all done behind the scenes.

I wonder though, is what you see what’s real?  Look at this antique photograph of the Shipwrecker’s Museum here in Key West.

This is the Asa Tift Warehouse where goods salvaged from ships wrecked on the reef were sold at auction.  If you ever make it to Key West then stop in – it’s a great show.  Here’s a little about it from their website:

Hear the story of the Isaac Allerton, which wrecked off of Key West in 1856. On display are many of the treasures from the wrecks of the Isaac Allerton and others. Visitors step back 150 years in history as they meet Asa Tift in his warehouse. The families whose fortunes were made in this exciting yet dangerous industry reveal their stories. Climb up to the 65′ captain’s observatory and watch the reef for wrecks like the wrecking captains of the 19th century.

Remember I asked if what you see is real?  Look at the next picture.

This picture was taken this year.  You can see modern signs and the Old Town Trolley parked in the foreground and some trees that have grown to the right.

Guess what… It’s the same photograph!  I am trying to teach myself graphics manipulations and design for the many things I have my hands in and this was one of my self-imposed assignments.  It’s not great work – I’m a rank amateur at graphics and it’s not my strong point at all, but I am determined that this too can I do through Christ who strengthens (and teaches) me.  If this photo fooled you then you either believed what I told you about it being an antique, you looked at it very quickly or you have little experience in photographic forensics – how many of us do?  Just imagine what a professinal can do with the same setup.

Now imagine for a second what a person can make us believe about anything – let’s say the things of God.  A professional could say that the Bible is faulty and has flaws that make it a less-than-absolute guidebook.  “God didn’t really say that did he?”  Sounds like what the serpent told Eve about dying.  By the way, God didn’t say He would kill them – He said they would die if they ate the fruit… and they did.

How do we protect against this?  We need to read, pray, meditate and study God’s Word and make it a part of our “common sense.”  Don’t touch an electric fence is common sense to anyone who has done it before but maybe not to someone that never heard of such a thing.  We should know what God says without having to think it out or debate it.

We also have to have a relationship with Him.  How would my mother react to a lie from her child?  It could be anything from nothing to chasing you around the room.  You have no idea but I do.  Being her child and knowing her in detail and having seen her deal with similar situations I can tell you without a doubt – and instantly without having to think about it – how she would respond to me lying to her.  We should know the Father’s heart as well or better than that!  If we have relationship with Him we will.  Relationship means talking to Him and listening.  Laughing about funny things with Him and crying when tragedy comes.  Being totally honest with Him about everything and trying to hide nothing.  Above all, spending time with Him, not just the 1 hour on Sunday or when you are “volunteering” at the church but when you wake up, when you finish a phone call at work or when you work out afterwards at the gym.  We should treat Him as if He were our best friend sitting in the room with us because He is.

So, don’t accept any wooden nickels or Photoshopped pictures or lies from the world.  Go and build your relationship with our Father and the other lies will be exposed for what they are.