Perception may not be everything but an impression given produces an impression believed, often based upon perceived images and actions rather than fact, and ultimately producing something that takes on a life and spirit of its own. Try finding the end of that rope!

Since mankind really is like this, the Lord’s counsel is to “abstain from every form of evil”—even the appearance of evil. While it is true that God knows the heart, and relationship with Him is totally a heart matter, He also knows the human condition trusts in, and takes its queue from appearance rather than the true heart issues involved. If perception is possible, a wrong perception might even be probable.

It’s the same with our human perception of God. We usually perceive God on a level we can relate to—you know, we have to keep it real!  For example, in the Bible there are numerous accounts of divine visitations, instances when the Lord actually appeared to men. Most often, the response of those who saw the Lord, or who saw an angel or angels, did not rise to the grandeur of the visitation; the human experience demands explanation and well, how do you describe supernatural Presence? When humanity interprets the Divine, perception likely is something less. Matthew 28:1-7 Ezekiel 40:1-4 

Two things to consider as you begin the New Year and this new season:
1)    Others judge you on the basis of what they would do under the same circumstances; or of what they think they know about the facts of your situation, even taking liberty to change, or add to those facts.
2)    And, others judge spiritual matters, and even God, in the same way—on their level, within their experience, limited by mindset and lifestyle, filtered by the mind, interpreted by intellect and reduced factually before arriving at the heart of the matter or heart issues involved, many of which only the Lord could possibly know.

Amen.