Think of it like Stripes in the Road

Is perception reality?

Of course, the phrase just refers to the fact that the way we perceive something is the way that we act in response to that.

And therefore, for each individual, perception is reality.

And that much is true.

But, is perception really reality?

Is, how we see something, the way it truly is?

And not just in a ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ kind of way.

Does our opinion of something, our perception, really define truth?

Think of it like this.

How long are the stripes on the highway?

At least, how long do they seem to be when you are driving?

No very long, right?

They go by so quick that they must be short.

Right?

Would you believe that each stripe on the highway is ten feet long?

Ten feet.

That is the federal guideline.

Now, it may not seem like they are ten feet long.

When I am driving it doesn’t appear that each stripe is taller than I am.

But they are.

Each one.

Now, I can hear you saying, ‘Interesting bit of trivia, but so what?’

I’m glad you asked.

The length of a road stripe really isn’t that important but understanding that our perception of something does not mark truth is important.

Over the years, I have spent as much time ‘unteaching’ people about God as I have teaching them.

People have beliefs about God from things that they have heard.

Or seen in a movie.

Or a television show. (Looking at you Touched by an Angel)

Or something someone once told them.

Or something they read in a book, no matter whether it agreed with Scripture or not. (Giving you the stink eye The Shack.)

But just because we perceive something to be true about God does not mean that it is true.

God gets to define who He is and how He acts.

Not us.

Not what we wish the Bible said about God.

Not what we think it says about God.

Not what we hope it says about God and the way He runs the universe.

And the difference between how we might think He runs the universe and the truth about how He actually does can have eternal consequences.

One quick example.

Does everyone go to heaven?

Or is it true that no one goes to the Father except through Jesus?

Those are different.

Critically, eternally different.

Life-changingly different.

And only one can be true.

So, the next time you are driving, look at the road stripes and remember that how we perceive something doesn’t necessarily make it true.

Your eternity may depend on it.

Especially, if you lay down in the road to check the length.

Yeah, don’t do that.