Perception is Not Always Reality

 Perception is Not Always Reality (as in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus)

 

“He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand. Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.” 

(rf. Is. 6:9-10 NKJV)

 

            It is commonly affirmed in our day (and for many generations before) that “seeing is believing”. Folks often give their assent to the notion that perception = reality. Indeed, the entirety of our media industry is based on this premise. In the field of news, for example, years ago there was a greater overall sense of just sharing the actual events with little, if any, commentary. It was a reflection of the oft-quoted saying from the TV series, Dragnet—“The facts, m’am, just the facts”. However, in the last 40 years, especially, we’ve seen newscasts transformed into a running dialogue of commentary, designed to sway public opinion. There is little regard for factual information; it is the ability to persuade others to one’s point of view that is all important. Therefore, the images and reporting put forth as “perception” are not a true reflection of the “reality” involved. Even “Reality Shows” are staged solely for “perception” purposes.

            When you bring the dictum, “perception = reality” to bear upon the story of Christ’s Passion, it is easy to see that there is not an equality of concepts at play at all. First of all, He was perceived to be guilty of offending Jewish Law, but was, in fact, innocent of all fault. Pontius Pilate himself gave pronouncement of Jesus’ innocence, but, even having that reality before them, the Jewish leadership and the crowds there to support them were insistent on taking Jesus’ life because they could not accept His Messiahship, believing that His teachings sought to undermine and destroy the Mosaic Law (rf. Matt. 27:1-26; 5:17). Little did the people (and their leadership) realize the curse they brought on themselves in not only denying their Promised Messiah but also committing him to death by crucifixion.

            Secondly, it was perceived that His death accomplished nothing, while He was, in fact, taking away the sins of His people. Jesus came initially to fulfill a mission—“to save His people from their sins” (rf. Matt. 1:21). In order to complete His atoning work, He had to become “the propitiation of our sins” (rf. I Jn. 2:2), taking the wrath of God upon Himself in our place. This wrath combined a painful, physical death (i.e. crucifixion) with a brief separation of Himself from the Father (“My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”—rf. Ps. 22:1; Mk. 15:34). Only through His suffering were our sins completely cleansed. For those who did not believe in Jesus as God’s Son, all they saw was a man in anguish as He died a criminal’s death. There was surely much more happening than met the eye!

Thirdly, it was perceived that the grave was His final resting place, when, in fact, the grave could not hold the resurrected Son of God. The Jewish leaders believed that their nemesis was finally gone and His claim to Messiahship was eradicated. Yet, even though feeling assured of themselves, they still feared a third party would enter the picture and steal His body, claiming His resurrection. Thus, they had Pilate seal the tomb and put guards on site to make sure He did not return from the grave (rf. Matt. 27:62-66). Yet, all of the precautions set forth by Pilate and the Jewish leadership were not able to keep Jesus dead in the tomb. He came forth victorious, the seals broken, the stone removed, sharing with His disciples of His resurrection (rf. Matt. 28:1-10).

Finally, it is perceived that Jesus who lived centuries ago could have no bearing in the present, but, in fact, because He lives still, He is transforming lives continually. Even though Jesus returned to heaven early in the first century A.D., we who believe in Him as Lord and Savior have been changed completely (rf. II Cor. 5:17). It is solely by the power of Christ who lives eternally and now sits at the right hand of the Father that we are saved, justified, sanctified and glorified (rf. Rom. 8:29-30). As we are being made more into the image of Jesus by the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit, we are serving Him and being prepared to occupy our place with Him in heaven. All of this is still being accomplished by the Jesus of the first century who is the eternal Son of God. He may “perceived” as gone from the earth, but the “reality” is He is still here with us, very much at work to accomplish His Father’s will.

Taking the “seeing is believing” or “perception = reality” position severely limits one to a shallow view of life, especially in the light of Christ and His Work. May we rather seek to know what is true and lasting that resides under the surface of what is seen or experienced.

 

Have a Positive Attitude...Always!

 “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things. Do those things which you have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”   (rf. Philippians 4:8-9 MEV)

 

            Earlier in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, he commands God’s people to “rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” (4:4). Later in the same chapter, he says of himself, “I rejoiced in the Lord” (4:10). Some may say in response that Paul was just expressing that he was a happy man in a happy place in his life. That is not the case at all. His command to “rejoice” and his own experience doing the same stands in stark contrast to his situation at the time when he was writing this particular epistle. He was in prison, not knowing if he would be released to freedom or if he would be put to death (1:19-26). For most of us, being in prison for any reason would be most disheartening. For the Apostle Paul, because of his trust and faith in the Lord, he could “rejoice”!

            It is important for us to see what Paul understood implicitly—the connection of our attitude lies with the Lord and not our circumstances, background, previous ills done to us, etc. If anyone had justification for being negative, Paul did…but he did not allow negativity to rule his life. He knew the Lord was in control of everything including his circumstances. How he responded to those circumstances was totally up to him.

            Within this context, it is easy to see how Paul maintained a positive outlook despite the tenuousness and uncertainty surrounding him. He did exactly what he encourages his fellow believers in Philippi to do: “think on these things” (i.e. the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue and praise). His was a very positive outlook at all times grounded in his thought-life and attitude.

            Paul is teaching God’s people that a negative attitude, though very tempting to pursue in bad times, is not really an option. By the grace of God we are capable in the worst of circumstances to have and maintain an optimistic perspective because we serve the God who has the best of ends in view. This does not mean that everything will always work out the way we want or believe that it should. It does mean that, if we truly trust the Lord and His Word to us, we will focus our attention on Him and use the strength and fortitude that He has given to each of us in Christ to overcome the world…along with our penchant to go negative when the conditions around us do the same. 

            Let us commit to seeing our present context through His eyes and heart. Only then can we have and put forth a positive attitude at all times.