None of us see the world directly. From the moment of our birth, we begin to see the world through filters. Early on, our family strongly influences us and we learn about the world through them. Schools, media, books, churches, and our friends, all of whom have their own filters, help develop our filters. We eventually have partisan filters, ideological filters, religious filters, and social filters, through which we see the world. Distortions in our perceptions are inevitable. If the filters are thick enough, reality may not break through. We can and do deny our “lying eyes.”

Can we ever know the truth? I believe we can — “believe” being the key word. As we all have filters, we all have faith (in the sense of believing something we can’t prove). Even atheists believe their atheism. The important question is not whether we believe, but in what and whom do we believe. Believing can either blind us to the truth or open our eyes to it. Layers of religious filters marked the beliefs of many Jewish leaders. Those filters kept some of those who witnessed Jesus’ healings, or even the raising of Lazarus from the dead, from seeing the truth about Jesus. Yet not all were so blinded. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32 NIV)

Believing in only what we want to be true is a human tendency, and so, our filters are stubborn realities. They are not likely to be removed by our best intentions to be objective. Ultimately, it is not objectivity that is most needed. Seeing truth finally depends on the work of the Holy Spirit in opening the eyes of our hearts (Ephesians 1:17-23). This is God’s work to bring us not simply to what is true, but to the one who, in Himself, is the Truth! As this was Paul’s prayer for his readers in Asia Minor, it should be ours for ourselves, our children, our churches, and even the very world in which we live.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

…Holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you…

Lyrics by Paul Baloche

Tim Kelley