We are living in a day when point of view is king. People see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear. The internet has transformed the way we view information, a place where we decide whether the information is credible or not. If you disagree with the "facts" presented, it can be explained away as irrelevant propaganda - despite any research or support for the view. Whether it is news being reported on TV, books, magazine articles, or blogs, there seems to be a constant and growing suspicion of an underlying personal bias or political agenda. We may not even notice that the one with the bias could be ourselves! I wrote more on this point in a previous post in titled, "Particularized Trust." The field has been leveled to such a degree that a claim substantiated from 20 years of research can be instantly debunked by a web surfer who doesn't know a test tube from a beaker.
I recognise this blog is one among hundreds of millions and is therefore of infinitesimal significance. It is not possible for a blog to change a single person's mind concerning their established beliefs either of Christ, Christians, morality, or the Bible. People may click on a post from this blog and before one sentence is read fully declare "Rubbish!" and move onto something they already agree with. This also goes for Biblical doctrine and interpretation among Christians. It used to be that people actually toiled over their own Bibles in prayer, seeking answers to life's questions. Now prayer has been replaced by search engines like Yahoo and Google with millions of results to choose from. More than seeking the truth for our questions, we can fall into the rut of seeking confirmation in our ignorance. Find one person that agrees with you, and it would take more than the earth splitting in two to move us to reconsider.
I don't write these blog posts because I think I can do any good in this world. I can't save a soul. But I pray that God uses them for His glory in encouraging, challenging in a healthy way, and building up the Body of Christ. The only power of this blog is found in the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. He has the power to pierce, to reveal, instruct, to personally impact each and every person who reads looking for the Truth. Over and over in scripture the words of Jesus ring out: "He who has an ear to hear, let him hear!" Most people have ears, but it is rare person who knows how to use them. More than talking only of the functional aspect of listening, hearing in the sense that Jesus speaks of is "heeding." Heeding is hearing and walking accordingly. Hearing is when we actually listen and digest carefully what we have heard before we formulate a rebuttal in our minds. Are you the kind who is chomping at the bit in a discussion, that while another person is speaking to you already you are working out what to say next instead of hearing what is being said? Haven't we all been guilty of this offense?
From time to time I step back and examine why I blog and what purpose it serves in these treacherous times. My answer to continue at this time comes from 2 Timothy 4:1-4: "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
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Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
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For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
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and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." We are living in these days Paul predicted, when people will not endure teaching from God's Word. People pick and choose what confirms their existing beliefs. They will subscribe and follow teachers they agree with, and refuse any that raise contrary positions. People will gladly choose fables or stories over the revealed truth of God's Word. They will call the Bible a fable should it contradict their views! People assert there is no god so they can in essence be one! So what are the righteous to do? Preach the Word. Be ready in and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. That is why God has me contributing to this blog. I rarely see any fruit from it, but God will bring the increase in His time. Since it's His increase, I don't need to see it to continue pressing on. Even if there never is any measurable effect on the world or church from these posts, that's not my problem.
We Christians have been given the message of the Gospel as ambassadors for Christ in a world fully opposed to Him. We must speak, regardless if people seem to listen or not. The church has always faced obstacles, and always will. Christ is the only one who can open the eyes of the blind, open the ears of the deaf, heal the lepers, or raise the dead. Jesus has overcome, and we can only overcome through Him!
Hi Ben,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing here, like to contribute to your discussion by just making a comment on your: “Most people have ears, but it is rare person who knows how to use them.”
Jesus said: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they SHALL HEAR my voice"
Then Jesus went on to say: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me"
And that's why Jesus also made the statement that you quoted, "he who has ears to hear let him hear"
Jesus knows that all the Father has given to Jesus will listen and come to Him, and those who don't listen to Him, well scripture puts it quite simply:
"they are not of His fold"
Scripture says also: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. "
and: "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up on the last day”
So we as Christian, when sharing God’s Word, might as well be speaking in another language, as to hope that someone who is a not one of God’s sheep will hear. It just plainly, according to God’s word, cannot happen.
They simply won't hear the words, unless they are His sheep in this world, then and only then, will the Spirit of God cause him or her to hear with their real ears, by bringing His Words to life in this lost child of His, resulting in Repentance-Regeneration-Salvation and all the Angels rejoicing and praising God.
To the poor souls who are none of His, well very sadly, all our energetic and enthusiastic sharing of our Father’s Holy Scriptures will only seem like foolishness and nonsense to them but to those who have ears to hear; well simple put: the good news will bring forth in there hearts and belly total joy-happiness-peace; complete and utter salvation!
The Scriptures stresses to: Ask Seek Knock! Give yourself no rest, until you have entered into His rest.
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12,13
God bless all your readers here!
Keep sharing Ben, as His Words will most certainly take effect in those who have ears to hear.
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