It happens more often than I could reasonably consider it a chance coincidence. For example, during my twice-a-day reading of the scriptures, the same theme cropped up -- first in Isaiah 6 and then in Mark 4.
The passage in Isaiah explains why God dulls the spiritual eyes and ears of those who have already hardened themselves to truth. To them He says ominously, “Keep on listening, but do not perceive. Keep on looking, but do not understand. Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim.”
The New Testament passage repeats the same theme. To those who have already decided to turn from truth and follow their own will, God simply furthers the self-hardening. Here is what Jesus says of them in Mark 4: “While seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”
While it is always true that all who turn to Him will be saved, God will not be trifled with. Those who persist in turning from Him will find themselves so deaf and blind that they will not be able to see or hear truth.
We should always be careful about our decisions regarding God's truth.
2 comments:
Probably one of the most important things we can teach children is to love truth passionately, to seek the good, the true, and the beautiful, and to never fear truth. Inevitably, that will lead them to God and keep them anchored to Him.
Sadly, even that is no guarantee that they will not stray.
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