Blindness to the Truth
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man‘s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the Natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. – 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.
If you ever go to Greece, please do not do any “plane spotting,” and under no circumstances let anyone see you writing down the airplane numbers. Eight tourists from the United Kingdom found that out the hard way. After these English tourists were caught spotting planes, and writing down numbers, they were arrested. Not only were they arrested, but they also have been sentenced to three years in prison. Very strange isn’t it, but the authorities in Greece will not believe that someone could innocently write down airplane numbers. The Greek officials will not budge from their belief that anyone who writes down airplane numbers has to be a spy. The officials refuse to see the truth of the tourists’ innocent activity.
If you have ever tried to witness to a lost person, you may know what it is like to talk to someone who refuses to see the truth. To those of us who are Christians, we easily accept the truth of the Word of God through faith. The Spirit of God within us reveals this truth. However, those who are not Christians do not have the Holy Spirit living within them. Because of this, they will misinterpret the Scriptures, and non-believers will warp the meaning of the Scriptures if they are involved in a discussion. The natural man, the non-believer, cannot understand the things of God.
So, if the non-believer refuses to see the truth, how can they ever come to know God? God is working in their lives to draw them, the non-believers to Him. Jesus says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44).” It is God’s will that all would be able to know, understand, and receive the Truth. Jesus says, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40).”
What should be our response to the refusal of the non-believer to see the truth? Our response should be one of love and understanding of the spiritual situation. We should pray that God will continue to move, and work in the person’s life, and if possible, let the non-believer know that we are praying for them on a daily basis. At the same time, we must live out our faith before them demonstrating the love of God.
Pray that God will remove the spiritual blindness of the lost, so that they will come to know, love, and serve the One True God.
(If you have ever tried to witness to a lost person, you may know what it is like to talk to someone who refuses to see the truth.)