“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken.” ~ Jane Austen
ISAIAH 43-44
Isaiah focuses on warning the people of the futility in worshiping and making idols.
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”
20Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
COLOSSIANS 2
Paul warns the church of Colossae of the dangers of being seduced by Legalism, False Humility and certain Philosophies.
1I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
JOURNAL
In both of these passages the focus is on being deceived by either man made idols or by man's influences on the mind. Reality is that everything that is good and true comes from God and is lived out in the life of Christ. Anything that challenges or goes against this betrays us into believing lies. The "mystery of God, namely, Christ" is ultimately found through personal relationship with God. It cannot come from another man or an earthly object.
I don't think this means that we do not experience God through others and through physical creations and experiences. However I think it is easy to become deluded into thinking that these are the source rather than just the conduit.
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