Those Lying Eyes, Ears and Minds

Submitted by RVH on Thu, 10/22/2020 - 14:14
Lying eyes, ears and minds

The way that the eyes and ears transmit information to the brain and then what the brain does with the information is simply miraculous. A miracle of God’s creation and far too technical to get into here.

However, humans have an ability, through workings in the brain, to see and hear exactly what they want to see and hear. Regardless of whether it actually is what they see and hear.

We have all heard of the example of ten witnesses to a wreck or crime and having as many as ten different accounts of the deed.

The simple focus of this lesson is that humans have a wonderful brain that computes at a faster rate than a basic computer and essentially knows the difference between right and wrong. Yet, our eyes, ears and brain can lie to us.

Humans can manipulate their thinking through the following two internalized processes;

  • Rationalization
  • Justification

 

We rationalize when we try to explain a behavior or attitude with what we have come to believe are logical reasons. We convince ourselves that our reasons are logical and acceptable, even when the behavior or attitude is inappropriate.

 

Rationalization

 

The justification part of this process is the internal and faulty “cleansing of the heart and soul.”  It follows rationalizing the behavior or attitude away and is a mistaken mental action of declaring the behavior or attitude perfectly right, reasonable and acceptable.

Even though most all humans know the difference between right and wrong or good and evil, we have the ability to short-circuit the brain with our eyes and ears transmitting wrong information and then rationalizing and justifying something away.

 

Rationalization

 

Satan is a master at causing our eyes, ears and minds to miscommunicate. He is a master at convincing us that our mean-spirited attitude toward those who are different than us is just fine. He is a master at convincing us that our gossip is simply normal. He is a master at being able to convince us that being unkind is how some people deserve to be treated. Or any other sin that he might entrap us in.

Remember what he did to Eve. She listened, she looked and then she rationalized and justified in her mind the sinful action she was going to take.

Eve listened with those “lying” ears and looked with those “lying” eyes, transmitting the information that Satan wanted her to see and hear to her brain.

Satan doesn’t cause ten accident witnesses to provide ten different accounts of what they saw.

However, Satan can cause Christians to see, hear and process faulty and false information.  Eve is a prime example. She knew better. She had everything she needed. She was in the presence of God. Yet, she let her eyes, ears and mind lie to her.

As Christians we know that the Holy Spirit dwells within each of us and we have the absolute power to defeat Satan at all times.

If we walk daily by the Spirit, Satan will not be able to trick our eyes and ears. He will not be able to cause us to rationalize what we know to be sinful behavior or attitudes and therefore not able to justify them.

If we walk daily by the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in our lives and Satan will not be able to cause our eyes, ears and mind to lie to us.

 

Fruit of the Spirit

 

Galatians 5:22-23   English Standard Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 

Furthermore, put on the whole armor of God, as Paul instructs in Ephesians.

 

Ephesians 6:10-13   English Standard Version

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Finally, we must submit ourselves totally to God and resist the devil.

James 4:7   English Standard Version

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Let us walk in the Spirit, put on the whole armor of God and submit ourselves totally to God. As we resist the devil, which is totally within our power, our eyes, ears and mind will work in concert with God and His will for our life.

RVH