The truth is what matters, but the perception of a thing will work just as well for most people.
Perception is actually nothing less than a lie, and is used extensively by news outlets when there is a particular item that they want portrayed in a light different than what the truth is, and usually for some personal benefit. It is a form of coercion that draws one away from the truth, and always in a subtle way.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8)
Many who claim Jesus Christ as Lord use this perception on themselves daily, but the truth is evident, if not to the inner man within them, then to those who have been blessed with Spiritual discernment. Twin brothers can fool others, even their own parents at times, but they can never deceive each other. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1 John 2:19)
Those who claim to know Jesus Christ as Lord and those who have truly been born-again may look the same to the world, but at least one of them is not being deceived. It is quite simple for the one who has been crucified with Christ to tell who their brother or sister in the Lord is, and who us performing this act of deception, this perception of being one of the chosen of God. The Holy Spirit knows Himself, and, if you can understand this, can see Himself in those who belong to the Lord.
Spiritual discernment is not only the gift from God of being able to see the lies and deceits of the world, but those of men and women who profess the Lord only with their lips. Not only the perceptions that Satan uses to advance his plans upon the unsuspecting population of the planet, but upon a singular individual. We know who our brothers and sisters in Christ are.
Many times it is quite easy, if one says they are a Christian, yet spends a great deal of their time in the bar or getting high, watching pornography, or any other lust the world offers, we can fairly well rest assured they are not saved. If they profess that the Roman Catholic cult, the cult of Mormonism, or any other religious organization is the only path to the Kingdom, a path of works required by man, making the cross only an addition, our salvation something the Lord Jesus Christ could not accomplish on our behalf without our assistance in some form, they are not our brother or sister in the Lord. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
But some are far more proficient than that, attending a God-fearing church, singing the songs, offering praise, seemingly one of the brethren, yet when we meet them on a Tuesday morning or a Thursday afternoon, there is no desire to speak of the Lord, no questioning of the possible needs for intercessory prayers to the Most High on your behalf, no signs, no words, nothing that says to the world “I serve the Lord Jesus Christ,” save for an hour or so on Sunday morning, and perhaps at the mid-week Bible study.
The fruits of the Spirit “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23) are just that, fruits that belong to the Holy Spirit that proceed from the one whose life has been crucified with Jesus Christ, yet they can quite easily be feigned by those only professing Him with their lips.
Spiritual discernment, and that only from the Lord, is the only way to see through the perceptions offered by them.
Seeing the evil of the world is quite simple, “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.” (Prov. 14:6) Seeing through the deception of some of those that sit in the pews with you each Sunday morning is another matter altogether.
Judgment, righteous judgment in this area must never be made hastily, but if the Lord has blessed you to see the truth of one who is no more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing, you are to speak up about them, and always in the hope that they will see the deception that they have fallen prey to.
