One: Topical Bible study/The Whole and the Part

 One as a specific point of fact:

The Whole and the Part:

There is the body whole and there are the parts that belong to it. We may turn our eyes to any part of our experience, any part of our reality, and see this fact. In the previous sentence, for example, common knowledge dictates that our whole experience, our whole reality, is known by its parts. Our home life is but a part of our whole experience and reality. We may also see our childhood as a part, our place in the neighborhood and local society as a part, our extended place in society as a whole, including our work lives, free time, and responsibilities under the law. We know ourselves as only a part, and not as the whole.

We see ourselves, not as a part alone, but as a part that has far-reaching connections. My wife, for example, has family connections in Mexico, California, Oregon, Illinois, Iowa, and overseas. When I look at my family tree, I see connections that reach far back through history. None of us are blind to our connections. In that we are able to recognize that we are part of this, or part of that, we also recognize the whole that we are part of. Others know us by the whole we are a part of. When we see a pot-bellied old man riding a miniature motorcycle in a parade, and wearing a Fez, we instantly recognize him as a Shriner. When you see a member of your social circle, you instantly recognize a friend. Sometimes far, sometimes close, we see the member and know the body whole.

A clear example of this is found in Luke 17:24 “For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven.” Our connections shine forth. They can not be mistaken. Even when some people amputate parts of their connecting identities, the subconscious eye still sees the light.