Dear Ones:
When Eve looked at the tree of life, she perceived that it was “…good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise.”(Gen. 3:6) This perception was subsequent to the serpent (Satan), this angel of light, deceiver and liar, putting before Eve a thought…a lie…that which was a contradiction to truth, the truth of God. She “perceived” in the beautiful creature the opposite of what had been declared to her as absolute truth, and this by God. Immediately we see in this story that Satan’s tactic was to introduce a lie into Eve’s mind, entice her to believe it, and then encourage her to act upon it. The result was exactly what God had declared. She, and Adam, and “Adam’s helpless race,” would die.
Jesus confronted the issue of “perception” as opposed to truth by using a real life example. Herod had grossly murdered some Galileans , and “mingled their blood with their sacrifices.” Christ would go on to use another example of people dying to illustrate that “perception” is NOT necessarily truth. The tower of Siloam fell on eighteen people. One might think in both instances that the deaths of both of these groups illustrated that they were greater sinners than all around them because they suffered such terrible deaths. Jesus wipes all these “concepts” away by saying that “perception” is not the issue. Truth is the issue: “I tell you…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3,5) The truth of the matter is, what God says is truth, and anything that is contrary to this is a lie. Eve believed a lie…and “died.” These onlookers believed that two groups of people died, and suffered such a death, because they were such great sinners. The onlookers believed that their “righteousness” in comparison was greater than those who died. Jesus says that God’s form of righteousness is NOT that of man, but of Christ and Him alone.
The great hope, ACCORDING to God is: “As by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One (Christ), the free gift came upon all men unto justification.” (Romans 5:13) We might “perceive” one thing, or one person, more righteous than another. But God declares ALL our righteousness to be as filthy rags. “ALL we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his OWN WAY. And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53:6) Our ONLY righteousness is Christ, regardless of our “perception.” Our enemy is ever seeking to introduce into our minds the lies of our times, through “education” and cultural acceptance. But let us remember, “…heaven and earth may pass away, but My word shall not pass away…and he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. The absolute truth that is in Christ cuts through the deceptive, seductive lies of the devil, in order to bring us to God, to life, and light….and hope. Without Christ, there is NO hope in the face of death. With Christ, there is the certainty of a hope that will ever endure, and be fully realized when we shall see Him.
Love, Dad
May God continue to bless you and your loved ones with the fullness of his Shalom. For we are in the days of the Lord, stay diligent watchmen.