Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Light is invisible to the human eye. How we perceive objects is the absorption of different color frequencies and the reflection of some color frequencies within the light spectrum which then enter the eye and then are transmitted from the retina to the brain forming images. If light were visible, we would not see anything except the overwhelming issue of light from its source, the sun.

Then we have the ultra-violet and infra-red wave lengths that are just outside the range of the human eyes ability to perceive. Beyond that there are more waves with the same properties as light but with different frequencies. We have instruments to record and measure those so we do know they exist.

Hearing is similar as sight in that frequencies exist that are beyond the human’s range of capability to perceive. Perception only exists in as much as we can naturally hear and see or detect by invention to analyze and record by non-human means, instrumentation. Even then science has to rely upon a fair amount of theory to explain the unexplained. Particles that move faster than the speed of light cannot be seen or felt, yet have been deemed to exist because of causal effect.

Matthew 13:16-17 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

How is it that some can see and hear what others cannot? What instrument of perception makes this possible?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The gift of the Holy Ghost i.e. Holy Spirit is the instrument of perception. He is the eyes that see and the ears that hear, but only to them who believe.

Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Look very closely here, these are people who took the gospel to heart. That is a little scary for anyone who assumes that all you have to do to be saved is to take the salvation message to heart. So what is it that does save? Do we believe simply by taking these words to heart? Apparently not, so something about belief goes deeper than just words.

If you accept that the devil takes the words from the heart, then the secret of how belief affects salvation must be connected to the heart condition or else the devil would have left them there.

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

How does the Word give us a new heart? What has to happen to cause this change of heart?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Here Peter says repent and be baptized but in Mark 16:16 Jesus said believe and be baptized. Which is it? It isn’t the baptism that saves, baptism is nothing more than a sign of change. The use of be baptized in both passages is a sign of the change. Belief that leads to repentance is that change of heart which saves.

Are you saved?

It is not for me to say, only ask. Has the Word you have placed in your heart lead you to repentance?