Filters

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (KJV) 

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

In the world we live in, especially in the modern social media setting, the normal look and feel, natural person is hidden by filters and AI, and there is no honesty or integrity. We tend to think that we as humanity can hide the things that we don’t want people to see.

This has bled over into the church as well. People come to churches all over and go through the motions and processes of “having church”, and think that they are ok, and have things hidden from everyone else. That may be true for a while, but NOTHING is hidden from God. He knows the “thoughts and intents” of what is deep inside of us, and if we aren’t careful, we will sear the conscience that He gave us so that we become “secure”, thinking that no-one knows us for real.  The problem is that the world knows that what we profess is a lie, because we are not at all different than them, and God knows that we are lying, because He is a discerner of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).  Integrity is what we do and who we are when no-one else is watching. God is watching all the time, though.  It’s time to “renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness”, quit hiding from God or the people of God, and DENY OUR FLESH!  Whatever we refuse to “give up” here on earth WILL be given up in eternity.  

Our problem is mostly the fact that we don’t want to “deny” our fleshly desires, and want to fit in with the world. Remember that if any man (or woman) love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15)!  Filters have become so prevalent in social media that everyone can look and see that the filter is applied, except for the person who applies it. 

It is a sad day when our conscience becomes seared to the point that we don’t even realize that everyone around us knows just how filtered we have become and the only person we’ve fooled is ourselves. It’s time to look into the mirror of the Word, and to be brutally honest with ourselves and ask God for mercy, and a reset of our conscience so that we can feel His conviction in our lives again. If we don’t, we will never be saved!  Throw away the “filter”, and let God “see” you as He needs to…An open and honest person that really needs His cleansing.