Perception, Reality and Salvation

The world tells us, “perception is reality.” This statement springs from the assertion that, “man is the measure of all things” (Protagoras). Adam and Eve fell in the garden because of their desire to “be like God” and determine, by their perception, “good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

God tells us He created a true reality that is correctly perceive through our relationship with Him and study of His Word. Jesus prayed for us that God would, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).

Paul describes the Gospel as “a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). To the believer the Gospel is the pleasing aroma of life [reality] but to the perishing the stench of death [human perception].

Paul also explained, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

We all see reality through a lens. We may see it through the lens of the Holy Spirit - who Jesus sent to “teach you all things” (John 14:26). Or we will see it through the distorted lens of satan - who desires to blind us from seeing God’s truth.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Man will never find God through earthly wisdom. “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).

God wants us to know Him, so He draws us and opens our eyes to see the truth of His Word.

“We preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).

Finally, Paul asserts “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). God’s “foolishness” is actually “the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15).

By Jesus’ “weakness” of dying on the cross “we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10).

Pray that the lost will have eyes to see and ears to hear the wisdom that the world calls foolishness.