Delusions (with no truth, there is no lie)
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6
On the journey there will be countless delusions that are dangled before our eyes, demanding our attention, capturing our mind and our efforts. We fool ourselves into believing that these delusions will lead to satisfaction, happiness, joy, peace. But, we all discover the lie on the other side of the delusion. In fact, on the other side, when we are further down the journey, we look back and recognize what a fool we were to allow the delusion to captivate us.
Culture is full of these delusions that promise the perfect life. Be it work, sports, marriage, politics, even religion, each one of us has different delusions that capture our mind, attention, and efforts. For some, it may be money, material possessions. If I can just get that job, I will have security or happiness. For others, maybe it is a relationship, the idea that another person can fill a void in one’s life. The line in the movie Jerry Maguire, “you complete me,” is a lie. Delusions will disappoint. Delusions are never what they seem. Delusions are indeed a mirage.
The Bible repeatedly gives us warnings of following the lies of culture.
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Romans 1:25
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27
We have to train our minds to recognize the lies of culture. To recognize lies, one must understand truth. To recognize lies, one must believe that there is a truth, an absolute truth. If truth doesn’t exist, then neither do lies. No absolute truth equals no absolute lies. A journey with no truth will lead one to a false finish line, a mirage that never fulfills.
I never want those that I love, my kids come to mind, to chase a mirage. Imagine standing by watching them run the journey of life only to find out that the end of the road was fool’s gold. So, I point them to the Bible, Biblical literacy, the only source of absolute truth.
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