Real World vs. Virtual World

Recently a man in China spent $16,000 for a sword – not a real sword, mind you, a virtual sword.  It is part of a game, called “Age of Wulin”, which had not even been released yet.  The game is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) that is set in ancient China.

That type of financial decision seems absurd to most of us, but he’s not alone in spending “real world” money on virtual property and items in these type of games.  As a matter of fact, a recent study valued the virtual economy for online role-playing games at $3 billion dollars.

A lot of us might look at that somewhat disparagingly.  Why would you invest so heavily in things that aren’t “real”, but just exist in an imaginary world!?  It just doesn’t make sense. 

But on the other hand, most all of us do it all the time…  Not necessarily online, but how “real” are the material things which we obsess over?  How permanent are they?   1 Timothy 6:7 says, “(NKJV) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

If we shift our focus a little so that we can see the spiritual world as the “real” world, and this physical world as temporary – almost an illusion, then our priorities and desires also radically shift.

Jesus seems to have this perspective when he says in Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) ¹⁹ "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

            That is not to say that we will never enjoy a luxury or that we’re evil if we do.  However, it does mean that we ought to put first things first.  Let’s not be so distracted by this life that we lose sight  of what’s truly “real” and what really matters.

            Let us be mindful of the words of 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.