I remember when my children were young and we would play pretend. We had pretend tea parties. When we played hide-and-seek, I would pretend not to find my children right away so their excitement would build as I looked all over for them. I would pretend they frightened me when they were trying to surprise me. Pretending is when you act like something is true when it is not true. When you are no longer playing childhood games, there should be no more pretending. What benefit is there to pretend something is true when it is in fact a lie?
In Matthew 13:14-15, we read this: “The prophecy of Isaiah describes them perfectly: Although they listen carefully to everything I speak, they don’t understand a thing I say. They look and pretend to see, but the eyes of their hearts are closed. Their minds are dull and slow to perceive, their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing, and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the truth. Otherwise they would open their eyes to see, and open their ears to hear, and open their minds to understand. Then they would turn to Me and let Me instantly heal them” (TPT).
This passage speaks of people who look and pretend to see — the people pretended to see, to hear, to grasp truth. In reality, the Bible says that they “shut their eyes to the truth.” When I read this passage, I cannot help to consider our current reality in my country and in the world. Consider how the media shuts their eyes to the truth. They do not investigate. They do not seek out truth. Consider how our schools and churches have turned their eyes away from some truths. Consider how those who share truths or the Truth of Jesus are deliberately silenced because the people in power want to pretend to see their own reality.
Today, consider what you are hearing and what you are seeing. Seek out truth. Seek out the One who is True. Keep your eyes open to God and His Word. Keep your ears expectant to hear from God and do not neglect your prayer life. As the world tries to dictate your focus, remember what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8: “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always” (TPT).
The devil will continue to try to get you to believe in the pretend — in the lies of this world — for he is the father of lies (John 8:44). Praise the Lord, we can know the Truth. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! (John 14:6). Let us also continue to pray for those who pretend to see, that they may have softened hearts and seek God and His Good News. Let us live in light of His Truth and continue to seek out truth and most importantly, to seek Him always.
Tania Gutekunst 