Stating something and knowing the truth behind it is a great gift of discernment. I know someone who could taste something and clearly know the difference between what was being aimed at and what was truly missing. That ability to discern is so crucial because all that matters is the truth of the matter. That is why God has given us His Holy Spirit: to give us that spirit of understanding.
Perplexing though some situations can be, it’s wonderful to have a reading of it and get that aspect of clarity. When God created the heavens and the earth, key in the process were the separations and distinctions He made. There was light; there was dark; there was night; there was day; there was the light for the day; there was the light for the night; there was the land and the sea; there was the heaven and the earth; there was man; and there was woman. God put these clear distinctions in play as an expression of how a God of understanding can get to the heart of the truth of what is and what is not.
It is not surprising that rejecting God has led to a great deal of confusion and deception. People follow the ways of the world that lead them to think what others want them to think so they can produce what others want them to produce, and it’s packaged in a way that gives them the impression they have choice and total autonomy in what they’re doing. All this is being done while they’re being led like lambs to the slaughter of despair, hopelessness and an acceptance that this is just the way things are.
Recalling the ways we can be deceived should make us desirous of understanding. Sadly, what often happens is that, after being trusting and explorative, the hurt of deception can lead us to become closed, cynical, and sceptical. This means that rather than being open to the truth, there’s a contentment to remain closed in what we prefer and stay right there.
Into this mess of our own making, it’s such a blessing to see what the wonderful God who redeems us does. He does not just take us out of the situation. He does not just take us through the situation. He places His precious Holy Spirit in us so we can discern and see a clear opportunity for good to be done for His glory. We can likewise see that something that appears pleasant and positive is not always the right path to take to do what pleases Him. His Holy Spirit does an amazing work in us to help us learn what is true from experiences of deception and prepare us to depend on Him in all situations to discern.
Thank God for the Holy Spirit, Who gives us the understanding to read situations in a way that lets us know what’s right from wrong, what’s true from fake, what’s lovely from fatal. Thank God He cares that much for us so we can enjoy what He’s created for our enjoyment.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
