Sense & Sensibilities
Making sense
Nehemiah 8:8 (NASB)8 They read from the book, from the law of God, [a]translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.
Heb_5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I have repeatedly said; “no man is an island”. The reason I say this is, not one of us have the ability to gain anything good by our own ability that allows us to make wise choices and decisions. We have to be taught. Those of us who are educated through the secular world discover that we are incapable of making wise choices in spite of our education. Take for example, many who commit suicide, go into prostitution, become drug addicts and alcoholics in spite of education and what common sense dictates. It may make worldly sense to be educated in order to make wise decisions in life but unfortunately, we have seen far too often, the very same educated people make some very bad choices that makes no sense at all. One must wonder where the sensibility of some choices of such people have emerged from. Far too often we explain our choices away and discredit our circumstances in life as being the perpetrators of bad choices, when in fact it is we who have made such choices, having taken leave of our senses.
It is evident that human beings have made no sense at all in the way they carry on. Wars, pillaging, rape, murder and the destruction of one another and the earth we live in is foremost on the minds of those who seek power, fame and fortune. There is no sense in anything we do that proves we have made mature progress toward a sensible society. Our decisions have led us to places of death and destruction on just a whim and a fancy or a wrong word said here or there. The absolute mindlessness of man’s thinking has led him to hide behind his education and so called “free will”. They say that the rights of an individual is far more important than the outcome of his actions. Does it make sense when a person who commits murder gets away on a technicality of his civil rights having not been met by the police or jurisprudence? One has to wonder about sensibilities in modern day society as to where it is leading us. Our end is not a mystery as we watch the absolute destruction of the world (human society) we live in and the earth upon which we stake our hope. It is taking place before our very eyes with each passing day.
The word of God which provides wisdom, knowledge and understanding speaks to us about a sense that we need to inculcate into our thinking before we completely lose our minds and way which will leave us incapable of making any wise decisions in life. We cannot depend on the world to give us this hope. The knowledge of God is something that we lack because most of us do not even think God makes sense. We find it hard to relate to an invisible God who does not speak face to face and who allows all manners of destruction to take place among us while expecting us to work out what we need to do to understand Him. Added to this, we have to follow commandments that defy our logic and passions. For our journey in life to make sense, we need to receive something from God that makes sense. This is where the power of God comes into play and suddenly everything begins to make sense.
Take for example a drug addict and alcoholic like myself. Once he is discovered by God, life changes around so dramatically that he stops all his self destructive habits and never goes back to it. This is the sensibility of God; not only to save a person from self destruction in the natural but also from eternal death in the spiritual. What is more about this journey of a natural life, is the journey into what really makes sense through God. When this sense reaches us, sensibilities can be expressed in all our speech, actions and thought. Then, life on earth makes sense. The fruit of character comes into play as a result and love abounds where none existed before. This is the power of God, to knock some good sense into a person. We need more of this in the world and not reject God or His ways because we feel it does not make sense. Our natural senses can never grasp the quantity or quality of God and what He offers. Apostle Paul found that all his religiosity made no sense once he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
We can see from the verses above that it is quite clear that we need the Spirit of God to understand God. I guess it is like having an Educator in the natural. Without a teacher to teach, we cannot learn or we will learn the wrong things and it will not make sense. Furthermore, natural teachers can only teach us about natural things but The Spiritual Teacher who is the Holy Spirit can teach us spiritual things. Why don’t we learn?
I am convinced that as time goes by in this world, things will make less sense in the natural. People will lose their way and their minds and it will become a society where anything goes (much of which is already happening under the guise of man’s law). This will bring more stringent and imposed law which in turn will determine sense (that which is acceptable by law). We will all be programed to think in that direction or we will face some form of isolation and possibly even death. I believe that this is why spiritual sense have to be exercised to know the things of God. There is a plan of God that is being outworked on earth whether anyone believes it or not. Yet, God is not without witness. When God sends His witnesses to preach the gospel around the world, many are accepting the power of God and turning to Him because it makes perfect sense and gives hope.
Everyday life must make sense or else life will be rotten to the core. The ordering of the mind when it is confused or emotionally broken is very difficult. Psychologists have to painstakingly engage the mind to make sense of the world in order for that person to face life’s circumstances. Many who have faced tragedy in life have lost their senses altogether or have lost enough of it which makes them think that there is no sense in life. God on the other hand has given purpose to life and makes perfect sense in His creation. His creation is designed to make sense and it does. When we look at the intricate design of the Universe and all of its inhabitants in both animate and inanimate objects, it all makes sense. Science itself is based on the sense of many things that they are discovering. What they do not know is, there is a Creator who made it. Their sensibilities are threatened when they cannot explain something scientifically. They do not stop to look at themselves for one second to realise that they are a perishable object but still make sense in the scheme of things concerning life. Scientists are forever trying to find out a way to make things that last. Invariably, whatever they invent fails. When there is a failure in some way, it does not make sense to them. God on the other hand made us to last for eternity with Him. In designing us, He conditionally made us so that the failures will be as a result of us not Him. The moment we fulfil the condition of God, we become an everlasting creation of His. This condition is to accept that He created us and that He saved us through Jesus. This baffles many.
When the stargazers in the wise men searched the heavens for a sign (as they believed that the stars held the wisdom of God), they found a star that led them to the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. Mind you, the world had already been in existence for some time by then and prophecies abounded of such a Messiah. No one had seen him for thousands of years, yet searched for Him. Life made no sense till the wise men were told that the Saviour was born in Bethlehem and His star would lead them to Him. When they did find the Messiah, He was a baby in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. This did not make sense either. One would have expected that if there was to be an all conquering hero, He would come as an elegant King with great armies and save the world. When true salvation was understood by many who received the prophecies of the Messiah, they realised God’s wisdom. It made perfect sense that an Almighty God would lower Himself to become like flesh to save us. Maybe all if it does not make sense even now but it will in eternity. We need to have faith. Faith makes sense and our sensibilities are blessed by faith.
Let us not strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Our senses are under attack all day long and the only way to receive peace is to receive God’s word. It is the demonstration of His word that makes ultimate sense because it touches our senses and makes us know the truth. When we humble ourselves we will learn of His ways and find our peace. Mat 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Mat 11:30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Be blessed in all that you do. Learn to walk in sense and sensibilities that will lead you to the things of God which have power to save you. Do not allow the evil one to confuse you by what he makes you believe. Let God remove the veil
Lots of love
Pastor Noble
20/08/17