Perception Is Not Always Reality

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘(14) The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. (15) “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (16) They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” (17) Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? (18) Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? (19) When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. (20) “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” (21) He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”’ (Mark 8:14-21)

Recently, I was in conversation about The Ark Encounter in Kentucky, which is an excellent exhibition and, with the Creation Museum further up the road (almost into Indiana) is worth spending time at.  The Ark as built in Kentucky is in the same measurements as is in the Bible, so it is a great example to see it come to life – at least as it can be perceived it was like in Noah’s time.  In walking through the full-scale Ark, it has many exhibits on how the Ark ‘could’ have been laid out and constructed for its lengthy ‘cruise’, including waste management, ventilation, food storage, and even how ‘leviathan’ (aka ‘dinosaurs’) may have been stowed away for the voyage. 

The thing to understand about the Ark Encounter, as great as it is and as commendable for the people to have built it as testament to Biblical truth, is a perception of what they believed the Ark to be constructed as, to provide answers to questions in plausible fashion.   It is similar to the series ‘Chosen’, or the movie ‘the Passion of the Christ’, which is as close to the truth of the Bible is as written; the perception of the producers of these shows is what they believe is the reality of what Jesus went through, how Jesus looked, in the way the people were believed to be like in that day. 

We don’t know if there really were dinosaurs on the Ark, and we don’t know if Jesus made a dining room table (a scene with Jesus and Mary in the ‘Passion of the Christ’) as these are from artistic license to try to fill in the gaps of what is known with perceptions of what could be possible.  In other words, we know what is true from what is written in the Bible, we perceive how it possibly was through the shows. If you want to go see the ‘Ark Encounter’, or watch ‘Chosen‘ or have seen the ‘Passion of the Christ‘, they are good and enjoy them – but understand they also are not the Bible.

There have also been movies made about Noah and Jesus that have not been accurate to the Biblical record.  One example is ‘Noah’s Ark’ starring Jon Voight, a TV movie made in 1999.  It portrayed Noah living in Sodom with his friend Lot as his next-door neighbor.  Noah is told by God to escape Sodom and does so with his family and Lot’s family; Lot’s wife turns around and becomes a pillar of salt.  Later, Lot becomes a scoundrel, and a sea-faring pirate, especially when Noah is setting out in the Ark and Lot attempts to hijack it.  

Obviously, this is not at all accurate to the Biblical record at all; Noah’s life is encapsulated in Genesis 6 through 9; Lot comes several hundreds of years later in the account of Abram/Abraham in Genesis 12 through 25, with Lot being led out of Sodom by two angels in Genesis 19, definitely not by Noah.

The portrayal in the 1999 ‘Noah’s Ark’ is non-sensical if you know the Biblical accounts of Genesis.  However, if you did not know the Biblical accounts you would likely believe, based on the weird conglomeration of the two separate events into one, that this perception was true.  The perception of the writers in this farcical presentation may have been watched by someone unknowing and it now is for them how it really happened.  For the viewer ignorant of the truth, that perception fed to them is ‘reality’.

We often hear and see things in our various medias sources and from it gain a perception of the topic being discussed.  ‘That’s a good person, right there!’, or ‘I think that is not a good position to take’; we develop these trains of thought based on what information is provided us.  We gain a perception based on what we see and are told.  Unfortunately today what we are initially told can be misleading or an outright lie.  However, while the perception we create may not be based in Truth, it must also be recognized that for many Americans that initial perception is to them ‘reality’.  We can be led astray on modern issues like politics, health, economics and consumer goods by someone providing a plausible but false perception, in order to have the perception accepted as ‘reality’.

In Mark 8, Jesus uses the bread found on the boat to issue a warning on the broadcasting of perceptions based on falsehoods, or feelings.  When Jesus warns them of the ‘yeast of the Pharisees and Herod’, He uses the metaphor ‘yeast’ to provide the concept of growing a false narrative (like yeast causes bread to rise and grow).  While the Apostles were thinking about bread – that they didn’t have – Jesus was trying to tell them of the ‘bread’ they did have right in front of them – the Bread of Life, Himself.  Jesus tries to get them to understand that He is Truthful and trustworthy; in the practical sense they found one loaf of bread, with Jesus beside them they could have all the bread they needed.  In front of them He provided bread for multitudes, twice, with leftovers!  He is all they need for their physical needs (like food).

In the Spiritual sense, He knew that perhaps a few of the disciples, after He left them, may perceive a sense of protection under the Herodian Jewish government.  They or others in the people that they would lead in the first churches would perceive the Pharisees as the ‘true’ leaders of their faith, based on a perception given to them through the ‘media’ of the day.  The Pharisees may have proclaimed ‘Jesus is gone, he lied to you, come back home to hear what the Pharisees are saying’, and could have been a message to bring Jesus’ disciples back to where the Pharisees wanted them, under their control. 

Jesus, though, is trying to tell them those perceived notions are wrong; they are not based in Truth – but Jesus is Truth, true reality and not perception, or the perception of Jesus is actually reality – He is who He says He is; the Messiah and the King of the Jews. He is all they need for their Spiritual needs. as He is for ours!

When watching the news or reading a social media post, be skeptical; find and read a couple of articles to see what really happened.  Pray for discernment, wisdom, and knowledge.  Do this in your Bible study and even for sermons presented.  Be skeptical and compare what you hear with what is in the Bible; does it jive with the Truth?  Don’t allow someone (even me in the Word-of-the-Day posts) to sway you but use it with your inherent knowledge, the reading of Scriptures, prayer in wisdom, and the fellowship of other Believers to gain the Truth.  Don’t be ignorant with perceptions; be intelligent with the facts and the Truth.