She really wanted a Chihuahua puppy. As she crossed the border into Mexico, she thought, “Maybe I’ll find one and rescue it while I’m here.” She bought her normal goods and souvenirs and headed back towards the border. As she was nearing the checkpoint, she couldn’t believe what she saw—a Chihuahua abandoned on the side of the road! She pulled over and carefully put it into a box as it was clearly hurt and suspicious of the woman’s actions. She was determined to rescue the dog no matter how ugly or badly it was hurt. She smuggled her new passenger across the border and went directly to a vet. She explained that she found the Chihuahua on the side of the road, and it was clearly malnourished and hurt. The vet opened the box and gasped, “Ma’am, you have rescued the biggest rat I have ever seen. We don’t do rats.”
She really wanted a Chihuahua, and that was what stuck in her mind. I am sure you’ve done this but maybe not with rats. There was something stuck in your mind, and you saw this thing everywhere. It doesn’t have to be a physical item. It could be that you were treated a certain way, and your expectation was programmed for that same treatment, good or bad, from others. It is amazing what our minds can do to our perception of reality. Everyone passing the lady on the road was wondering why she was rescuing a rat, but she only saw the Chihuahua. It was what she wanted to see.
What happens if your perception of reality is askew when you approach the Bible? Let’s say you’ve been taught and/or believe that the Bible is only a superstitious book for controlling the masses. No more real than Santa Claus or Bugs Bunny. You are not going to take it seriously. Any argument that begins with, “The Bible says…” is easily dismissed as fantasy. You don’t see the rat in front of you. Another perception is that the Bible is good and God is good, all the time. Yet, you believe that there are so many ways to get close to God. Everyone must find their own way to the Creator. You couldn’t possibly dream of telling anyone that their beliefs concerning the Bible are wrong. God doesn’t care. As long as you believe in Jesus, you’re good. Another rat.
How do we know that we are not running with rats in our perception of reality? Do not be afraid to examine what you believe is true. Truth does not hide from examination. “Search the scriptures daily whether those things are so” (Acts 17:11). Our preconceived ideas of reality can keep us from the truth. Saul of Tarsus saw the same thing that everyone else saw and heard the same message from Stephen, yet he did not initially believe (Acts 9:1-2). When he was confronted with the truth he changed. Do you have rats or Chihuahuas?