The twentieth century has brought technical advancement that could hardly have been imagined at its beginning. Only a few decades separated the first solo flight across the Atlantic in the 1920s from a landing on the moon. The crystal radio set used several decades ago paved the way for instruments that send signals to space probes traveling to distant planets. As vision expands and limitations disappear, mankind's technical accomplishments continue at an accelerated pace.
This breaking down of limitations has great potential for good. But we need to understand the true basis of progress if we are to obtain the blessings we so much desire. In the Bible, James tells us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17. To receive this "good gift," we need to approach life from a spiritual standpoint, because this helps to set us free from material limitations.
We achieve fundamental and lasting advancement by building on a spiritual foundation. This often requires a new way of looking at things, a new conception or idea. The failure to recognize and accept evidence that is at variance with conventional thinking seems to be common, however. Both the Old and New Testaments contain accounts of the rejection of blessings when they came in conflict with strongly held beliefs. Weren't the Pharisees so preoccupied by the formal requirements of the law that they rejected Christ Jesus' healing ministry as being unorthodox?
