We see the world through the prism of our nature. If our nature is full of light, then we will see the world with light – which enables us to carefully discern darkness from light. The more light we possess, the more we can discern really sophisticated dark counterfeits and deceptions.
If our nature is carnal, and we wander in the twilight in between light and darkness, we will see the world through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). We don’t see the world as it is. We see it through the dark cell of our own darkened nature. It becomes an imagination to us. Or, as the scriptures, describe – a vain imagination.
Seeing and knowing ourselves, the people around us, the church, our society, our government – everything in our awareness – is a function of the light and darkness within us.
Even information, as logically and immovably true as we may think it is, can be twisted and warped depending on the darkness we carry. What we think is rational, or logical, will always be painted by the light in our nature. In other words, everyone believes they are acting rationally. Most people believe they see clearly. And this is what is so dangerous.
We should never trust our vision, our interpretation of our world, our comprehension of truth, unless we first achieve the state of being completely filled with light. If we are not filled with light, we will be acting in a deception.
This is also why repentance – turning our entire mind and heart to God until it is filled with divine light – is the first step to any effort. If we can’t get the light, everything will be painted with our deceptions, great or small.
This is why the world, the church, our society, our government is filled with vain imagination. It is seen through the lens of deception, and through the collusion of collective deceptions. Until we are a people filled with the light of God and there is no darkness in us at all, we will be a people guided by our vain imaginations.
Our vain imaginations cause us to act out our facades that conform to our vain views. It also makes us to make of our institutions Potemkin villages – propping up the view of perfection on the outside – hiding the corruption and impoverished spirit on the inside.
The only way to fix ourselves, our families, our institutions, and our communities is through deep, focused, whole-hearted and immediate repentance.
