These past few years reality television has become very popular and there are more and more “reality” shows that are being aired.  There are even whole cable networks that air only reality television.  The measure of “reality” that these reality shows offer is somewhat questionable.  If the networks were to offer a true view of the reality that many people have to persevere through I doubt that very many people would find that sort of television entertaining.  People are interested in reality but they can only handle small doses of reality at any given time.  Even our political candidates today have to hedge on what measure of reality they want to offer the voters.  If we really knew the “reality” of what we were facing for the future and the affairs of government, foreign policy, terrorist threats, economic outlook and other relevant areas that affect our lives then we would be very disturbed indeed.  Better that we don’t know.  We don’t want things to get too real.  When faced with true reality we might find it too much to stomach.

     In these past few weeks we have been listening to the Bread of Life discourse that Jesus is sharing with his disciples.  During this discourse, Jesus has been giving his disciples a very heavy dose of reality.  He has been discussing with them what real life is about.  It is becoming very clear that entrance into real life requires a tremendous amount of faith.  If we are to go forward into eternal life with God the Father and deal with the reality of sin and death then we must follow in faith the way of Jesus.  We can’t be looking for an easy way.  We have to listen carefully to the words of Jesus, words of life, and follow where those words take us.

     In the reading we have from the Book of Joshua, Joshua, the leader of the people of Israel, is also challenging the people of Israel to new realities.  They are about to enter into the promised land and begin a new life among foreign peoples.  The people have a decision to make before they enter into their new life.  They must be willing to live in a real relationship with God, who is the only “real” God.  The foreign nations that they will be living among will be offering to them other ways of worshipping gods, gods that are not real and do not have a real relationship with their people.  These new ways will seem easier, safer and more appealing than living with the Living God who has revealed himself to them at Sinai and who has led them through the desert to this promised land.  The people will be asked to make a decision before they cross the river into this new land and begin a new life.  They must be committed to living according to the Covenant that God has set before them and following his way that has been outlined in the Covenant and the Book of the Covenant.  In this way their faith and their relationship with God will become a real way of life and lead them into real life.  God will be their leader and it is Him that they must answer to through the response of a life of holiness.  Joshua makes it very clear to them when he says, “If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.  As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”  Only the Lord can offer to them real life and that real life is not always going to be easy to live.

     Jesus tells his disciples in the Bread of Life discourse that the words that he has shared with them about the Bread of Life are real words and require a real commitment of faith.  He tells them, “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.  But there are some of you who do not believe.”  If the disciples are not yet ready to live a real life in the Spirit of the Lord then they are not yet ready for true discipleship.  Many of the disciples are responding, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”  The reality that Jesus offers is too hard for them.  They are looking for an easier way.  The talk about the Bread of Life that comes down from heaven being real flesh and the drink he offers being real blood is a little bit too real for them.  After this discourse many of the disciples will leave Jesus.  He doesn’t change his words to suit the masses and make them more acceptable, he just sadly turns to his apostles and asks them if they are going to leave him also.  Peter responds with words of faith, “Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”  He recognizes that only Jesus offers a real way to life.  It may be difficult to accept and even more difficult to live but there is no other way to attain eternal life with the Father.