Monday, February 13, 2017

"Sensory Deprivation"


"Sensory Deprivation"   
    
     
   Regarding spiritual realities, we lead a largely sensory deprived life.

   "We walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7).

   Most of God's doings in the universe and in our lives take place without our awareness.  "In Him we live and move and have our being" declared the Apostle Paul of the infinite, eternal God whose existence is so vast that "the Heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee" (Acts 17:28; I Kings 8:27).  Moreover, the Lord "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11).  Creation teems with the presence and activity of the Creator as He "upholds all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3).  Again, however, we see so very little of God's infinite and intimate involvement, to the degree that even the most godly among us barely gaze upon the hem of His garment.

   Such relative blindness is necessary in our present existence.  Too much sight and sound would distract us from our Heavenly Father's primary purpose regarding our hearts, and more importantly, His heart.  Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ involves the revelation of His doings on our behalf, for which we rightly give thanks and rejoice.  However, walking with God far more unveils the character and nature of His being, and the transformation thereby of our own character and nature.  "Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (II Corinthians 3:18).  "Who art Thou, Lord?" asked Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:18).  The rest of the man's life and eternity involved the answer to that wisest of all questions, including the transformation of his own heart to the degree that Saul of Tarsus became Paul of Christ.  The Apostle discovered much of God's mighty hand after his conversion.  He reported the blessed truth thereof.  However, Paul's life and writings tell us far more about who God is.  Our brother escorted us into the very heart the Lord Jesus, a journey into glories revealed not by sight and sound, but rather by the unseen Spirit of God.  

    Let us be sure that we understand this Divine emphasis that makes necessary the largely sensory deprived life of the Spirit.  The God and Father of the Lord Jesus calls us into His heart for the only fulfillment that exists for our hearts.  "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).  The holy venture and adventure requires that we see, hear, and touch only enough to join Paul in asking the question he still doubtless addresses to our infinite God.  "Who art Thou, Lord?"  Eternity will not suffice in fully providing the answer, but this day can shine a bit more light upon God's heart, and into our hearts as we walk by faith, not by sight.

"The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
(Proverbs 4:18)
"He (Moses) endured, as seeing Him who is invisible."
(Hebrews 11:27)

Weekly Memory Verse 
   The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead, so that they are without excuse."
(Romans 1:20)
   
   

No comments: