by David Brenneman
"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him."
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.
There's a sort of famous movie quote that says "You're dead to me".
There's expressions we use such as being so tired that a person is "dead to the world".
Overall there's the overarching thought that there's nothing going on upstairs. The pilot light is out. There's no rational thought happening.
Well, apart from having the gift of God in Christ Jesus that is salvation, there is nothing a person can do to understand the things of God because they only are found in a new life in Christ. When a person comes to Christ for salvation, they're given a new everything. The new body comes at a later time. With this newness of life we, for the first time, begin to understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned, spiritually understood.
In the book of John, John points out more of this truth.
"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:5.
The darkness is sin. Sin has no place in the eternity that God created. When sin tried existing with the Angels of God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit, all of it was cast out of Heaven so fast it was like lightening. That's what the Bible says. Sin came to the Earth and through deception infected Adam and Eve and then all of humanity. Because of sin the Earth and our known physical universe was cursed. The Bible says that the whole Earth groans. Jesus said that with regards to praise for Himself that the very rocks were capable of crying out.
The Bible tells us that all creation points to our Creator God.
Yet with all this evidence...there's millions of people in denial of it all.
They celebrate their utter sinfulness. They draft laws to protect their sinfulness. They sugar coat their sins to bring about acceptance.
This is the present darkness. This is what Jesus spoke of with regards to when He returns that it will be like the days of Noah.
From the outside looking in that's about as clear an understanding that can be given of the spiritual state of the world.
Many have heard the phrase that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
The Bible says that every single person will be without excuse when they stand before Jesus to give an account of their lives. He knows who are saved and who is not. When He returns the saved of this world are leaving. Those who have already been saved yet had died will go first. Then those who are yet alive will join them. A serious brand new kind of chaos will envelope the world.
To understand the things of God a person must come to Christ for salvation. This salvation is free. Jesus said that we must come as a child. Just believe.
The world has countless theories to try to explain away the things of God but none are based in factual knowledge. Satan's schemes involve and include getting people to speculate and guess rather than to truly consider coming to Christ for salvation to learn the real truth.
My Dear Reader to understand requires you taking a leap of faith and asking Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.
You cannot understand the wondrous life that awaits you because all understanding of it will always escape you.
I have often quoted portions of Romans 10. This time read a bit further.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, By a nation without understanding will I anger you.” And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Romans 10:8-21.
In simple terms everyone who's not taken that step to invite Jesus to be the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives is a walking dead person. Their final destination upon dying will be Hell. Right now there's trillions of people there that truly wish they were somewhere else. Hell is a temporary place until the Final Judgment of God concerning sin. Then it gets worse. Hell is tossed into the Lake of Fire as we read in Revelation. Trillions and trillions of people with a now perfect body tormented for all eternity because they rejected the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
To tell you the truth...I have as cursory an understanding of that as you now do. I can't fathom the painful torment that those people are going through. After coming to Christ I often cannot fathom why people are so dead-set against coming to Christ for salvation.
You, my Dear Reader, have your eternal destiny in your hands. The cross of Jesus Christ brought choice to you. You decide to say yes or no to that free gift of salvation. You have all that responsibility only for you. I settled that decision decades ago. I have Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. The life that I now live in Christ...much of it can't be explained. I certainly can tell you with all confidence that you're missing out.
Jesus didn't have to go through all that hanging on the cross did to Him both physically and spiritually but He did...and He did because you and I and trillions of people were worth it to Him...His love is that great.
Jesus said that He's at the door of your heart knocking. Asking to come in. If you really want to know what living is...open it and invite Him in.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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