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Perception
Deception
Imagine that you and I are standing
beside a six lane highway. All
the lanes are filled with fast moving vehicles. We are not at an
intersection or a point where a pedestrian would likely try to cross.
Approaching us is a man who is blind. He comes up to us walking
purposefully toward the highway and the traffic with his white cane
preceding him."Stop! Wait!" we
both shout and then even reach out to restrain the man. He protests and
tries to push us away and keep going.
"What's happening? Who are you? Why are
you grabbing at me?" the man asks. We try to tell him that he was about to
walk into deadly traffic. He merely keeps asking the same questions over
and over. Finally, we realize that he is hearing impaired and he is
wearing a hearing aid. You put your face near his ear and practically
shout, "You were heading straight into traffic!"
The man calms a bit and reaches to adjust
his hearing aids. "What traffic?" he snaps. "I nether see nor hear any
traffic or highway. All I see are two people who have accosted me for no
reason!"
"Can't you hear the cars and trucks?" we
shout at the man. "The road noise is quite loud!"
"Noise? Why that's the sound of the
ocean! I'm heading for the beach to have a nice stroll and I knew I was
almost there by the sound of the surf!" The man again starts to walk
toward the highway.
Once again, we both restrain him and try,
loudly, to explain the he is not hearing the ocean and is heading to his
death if he continues. He throws us off and rushes directly into the
traffic, stating loudly and firmly, "I perceive that I am near the ocean
and that is where I'm headed." And those are also his last words.
Unfortunately, the man's perception was
not at all reality.
There are psychologists and others who
declare that "perception is reality." They assert that whatever a person
perceives to be true is indeed true for that person. For example, if
someone perceives that the world is out to get them, then that is true for
that person. It is their reality.
There are those who deny the influence or
even existence of God. They choose to believe that Jesus Christ was just a
good guy with interesting ideas. They perceive that they are a good person
and that they are in control of their own lives. They validate themselves
by the choices they make and believe in whatever they decide makes the
most sense. If there is a heaven, they will get there on their own terms.
If there is a hell, it must be a real party place.
Just as the man who walked into traffic,
these people are headed for a real surprise when they walk into eternity.
Perceptions are merely perceptions, and
are subject to error. Reality is reality, and it can bite when it's denied
or mis-perceived.
Satan is like a dog who seems friendly as
he stands expectantly wagging his tail, until you reach out to pet him and
he sinks his teeth into your hands. His game is to mess with your
perceptions so you will control your own destiny straight into his very
real Hell. Satan is not interested in your well-being; he is interested in
your being dead.
Not believing in God doesn't mean He
doesn't exist. Ignoring the Truth of His Word doesn't let you off the hook
of the consequences of your sins. Romans 3:23 states, "for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God." The result of unconfessed and
unforgiven sin is eternal death (Romans 6:22). That's the reality for all.
But it's not the end of the matter since
God's Word also declares, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1
John 1:9)."
And that's a reality we can all live
with! Forever.
"The coming of the lawless one will be
in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of
counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil
that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused
to love the truth and so be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
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