God isn’t just somewhere over the rainbow

“... we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” is one of the best-known lines from the movie “The Wizard of Oz.”
Dorothy dreamed a tornado whisked her and her beloved dog, Toto, up and transported them to the Land of Oz. She was bewildered and confused at her surroundings and realized that nothing resembled Kansas, her home and comfort zone. She was in another culture, a foreign, unfamiliar way of life.
In the past 25 years or so, our own American culture (and world) has undergone radical transformation from a “kinder, gentler” society to one whose values are self-serving. Selfishness in America is at an all-time high.
We’ve seemingly embraced a mindset of selfishness, self-gratification and the psychology of entitlement, which dominates the way a majority of people think. The world around us is changing from the comfortable, familiar ways of yesteryear to a strange and unknown culture.
We’re not in Kansas anymore.
We are bombarded with mixed messages regarding morality, declining values and acceptable behavior. Somewhere along the way, our culture began teaching that “money and things” are the answer to life’s problems. Yet achievement of money and possessions can never fill the empty void created when one places material things and money above God.   
A few years ago, I read a list of 10 things that money cannot buy. Money cannot buy: Brains, love, musician’s ear, artist’s touch, a good name and reputation, a good conscience, self-respect, happiness nor peace with God.
Indeed, money cannot buy everything. Someone once said, “character is what we are when we are alone and when no one is looking.” Colossians 3:2 states succinctly, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV).
Our mindset should reflect our deepest convictions, the philosophy that directs our decisions — the most basic values that form our beliefs, and the ‘absolutes’ and standards we live by.
Self-restraint seems to be a character value that is sadly being replaced by self-gratification in business ethics and morality. Selfish people think of God as a ‘celestial tool’ or a tow-truck. 
Ungrateful, they disregard God when things are going well, and only call on God when their lives “break down,” or for their selfish desires to be fulfilled. Committed Christians should not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of their minds through Christ, transforming from self-centered to “God-centered.”
The Message Bible states the words of the Apostle Paul, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.”
In other words, Paul cautions us not to imitate the behavior and customs of the world. Yet, there is growing emphasis on “self,” instead of focusing our devotion and service to Him.
Like Dorothy in the movie, our world has become unfamiliar territory, creating confusion as we wander around “Oz” disillusioned and disoriented by our challenges and problems instead of seeking God’s path and God’s answers.
We seek other ways to satisfy an empty life in this uncertain world and seek answers from sources not unlike the good-intentioned Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, instead of seeking guidance through prayer.
The source of our direction is critical. John 14:6 says, “I (Jesus) am the Way, the Truth and the Life!” Only Jesus can transform us from unhappy, confused and empty into satisfied and productive followers of Christ.
When Dorothy awakened from her dream, she rejoiced and was grateful for both, realizing she’d never left home and Kansas at all and instead had been surrounded by those who loved her and stayed with her through her imaginary journey in Oz.
In our world today where fantasy is crossing reality and deception is passed off as truth, let us “wake up,” rejoice and be grateful that our Savior is right here, by our side, directing our paths and illuminating the way we should go and allowing us, who call ourselves Christians, to live in such a way that others will see Christ in us and choose to follow Him, too.
 In Christ, we will have the heart, the mind and the courage to choose the right path and lead a Christ-centered life, even when “we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Destin-resident Ruth Turton is a professional Christian keynote inspirational speaker and recognized in the ‘tea world’ as a knowledgeable tea lecturer.