The big picture. The macro scale. The lasting effect. The grand scheme. These are all hard to imagine without a real bird’s eye perspective. I mean, if at twelve, the word “cancer” had any real meaning in my low cognition, would I have picked up a cigarette? Would anybody? The answer to that is simple no.

If we had any clue to the larger implications of our actions and the correlations those actions have on anything in our future or indirect circumstances, we probably would think twice or three times before we engage in half of the things we do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Our decisions and actions would be different. Trust me, we would exercise more, eat out less, consume less alcohol and be more picky of the people we spend our time with. Yet because our nose bridges are so high, we can’t see past effects beyond them.

So we say things like, “it makes me happy now,” or “I don’t see anything wrong with it,” or “what’s the big deal?” or my favorite, “you might as well try it once.” If you think about it, it’s one selfish decision after another. It’s sad and pathetic when we realize that the fuel motivating even our altruistic instincts are nothing more than the impulses of self-intoxicated misunderstanding of your place in the global scope of society.

But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” – Mark 8:33

Jesus is teaching people about his impending death so that the entire world can be saved from the sin that enslaves all individuals; and Peter, motivated in the selfishness of not wanting to lose his friend and his teacher, “rebukes” Jesus.

When I say “rebuke” I am not talking about a simple scalding. I am talking about a straight up curse storm and something pretty close to a verbal assault.

Jesus turns around and says something sarcastically funny and at the same time, incredibly powerful– “get behind me, Satan!”

See, here’s what Satan does to us. He dances in front of what really matters and keeps us distracted from the big picture. That’s his play and it works like a charm almost all the time because we are so naturally inclined to be shallow in thinking and immensely dense in character.

How many times have you lost opportunities because you were distracted by “other opportunities?” How many times have you made good decisions and chosen those over great decisions? How many times have you flat out done stupid things because you didn’t see that the consequences were of any relevance?

You don’t have to think long and hard about it, just check your Facebook timeline.

There are really only two ways to think, globally and big like God or narrowly and small like animals only interested in survival.

We can live a life like a beast and be merrily on our way, but of you want to dare to be more than just a creature, I dare you to set your mind to the things of God, and see what the big deal is all about.