Peeling Back the Illusion
By Raphael Almeida
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32
Sometimes, after being away from our routine for an extended period, we find it hard to transition back to our everyday lives. After returning from five months of reserve duty—and even after a trip to the United States—I struggled to readjust to the reality of family life and caring for my children. It made me wonder: why is it so difficult to get back into the routine?
This separation can create the illusion of temporary comfort and an escape from reality. However, when we return to our routine, we’re forced to confront our true and complex reality—the reality of who we truly are. These illusions don’t just occur in extreme situations; they can also arise in our daily lives. Whether they result from significant life changes or from ingrained thought patterns, they all demand that we examine ourselves and face the truth.
But what is an illusion? An illusion is a distorted or incorrect perception of reality, where our senses deceive us, causing us to see, hear, feel, or experience something inaccurately. Illusions can affect our visual, auditory, and even general perceptions.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” – 2 Corinthians 4:4
Paul describes how Satan blinds people’s minds, preventing them from seeing the truth. This illusion created by Satan is both temporary and addictive. When it fades, we often find ourselves chasing after it again, leading to a cycle of highs followed by the lows of depression.
Escaping reality can occur in everyday life and through seemingly small actions. For instance, six years ago, I was significantly overweight, weighing more than 220 pounds. I remember avoiding photos that showed my true weight, only sharing images where I looked strong and fit. This was my way of escaping reality. I also kept clothes that no longer fit, clinging to the illusion that I was working on my weight, even though I was far from it. It wasn’t until I decided to discard those clothes and share honest photos of myself that change began. Embracing the light and truth of the Lord helped me transform my condition. The real issue wasn’t the weight loss itself, but the deeper matters of my heart that God wanted to cleanse and purify. In my case, it manifested as eating to fill an emotional void, rather than addressing a basic need.
Satan operates on many fronts, even using the words of Jesus and the Gospel to spread lies. Phrases like “Accept who you are” and “Love yourself as you are” can sometimes obscure the truth. Our battle in the world is to know the truth and cling to it daily, even when we don’t feel it. We must declare who we truly are and reject anything else. A daily encounter with God is essential for us to be a light in the world and proclaim the truth, as it is written in John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Instead, we are reminded of the verse from Ephesians 5:13: “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”
To bear true fruit, we must undergo a deep internal transformation, willing to “die” to our illusions and live in the truth of Jesus (John 12:24). The most powerful light that can awaken us is the light of Yeshua, which often shines through the people around us—those we live and work with, and sometimes even those we find challenging. They help us see who we truly are, even when the reflection we see is hard to face. By spending time with those who speak truth into our lives and choosing to love them, we become ready to change ourselves and set aside our illusions, leading to a deep and genuine transformation.
Living in illusion can be both deceptive and addictive, but we must remember that true truth is found in God, and no illusion can replace it.
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