Influence of Perception
265
can retain the precious things that are brought from the Word. They
will digest its truths and as a result will have brain power to discern
what is truth. Then, as occasion demands, they can give to every
man that asks a reason of the hope that is in them with meekness and
fear.—
Testimonies for the Church 6:180
(1900).
Increasing Perfection Increases Perception—The nearer man
approaches to moral perfection, the keener are his sensibilities, the
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more acute is his perception of sin, and the deeper his sympathy for
the afflicted.—
The Great Controversy, 570
(1911).
Grief Dimmed Mary’s Perception—Then she turned away, even
from the angels, thinking that she must find someone who could tell her
what had been done with the body of Jesus. Another voice addressed
her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” Through her
tear-dimmed eyes Mary saw the form of a man, and thinking that it
was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me
where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.”—
The Desire of
Ages, 790
(1898).
Perceived Jesus by His Voice—But now in His own familiar voice
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Now she knew that it was not a stranger who
was addressing her, and turning she saw before her the living Christ.
In her joy she forgot that He had been crucified. Springing toward
Him, as if to embrace His feet, she said, “Rabboni.”—
The Desire of
Ages, 790
(1898).
Appetite Deadens Perceptive Faculties—The world’s Redeemer
knew that indulgence of appetite was bringing physical debility and
deadening the perceptive faculties so that sacred and eternal things
could not be discerned. He knew that self-indulgence was perverting
the moral powers and that man’s great need was conversion—in heart
and mind and soul, from the life of self-indulgence to one of self-denial
and self-sacrifice.—
Letter 158, 1909
.
Sins Dim Perception—It is sin that darkens our minds and dims
our perceptions. As sin is purged from our hearts, the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, illuminating
His Word and reflected from the face of nature, more and more fully
will declare Him “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant
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in goodness and truth” (
Exodus 34:6
).