I always find it so interesting that many times when I have a conflicted thought (or frustration) going on in my mind, I start coming across Scripture and hearing sermons that seem to all be speaking to me about that particular situation, as if in answer to my questions. For sure a God thing. I’ve been learning a lot about something lately, so I decided to make it my topic of this post, which I’ve titled Spiritual Blindness.

Social media is getting harder and harder for me to browse around on because it starts getting depressing to realize how many people out there are truly lost and on the wrong path. God is in full control and things will go according to His plan, but still, it makes me sad for Him. Of course it is heartbreaking for the lost souls too, but it makes me sad for Him because of how much it must grieve His heart when people reject the life He offers. And now it seems to me, the political/governmental arenas seem to be more like “up vs. down” instead of “left vs. right,” and although the Bible tells us this is how things are going to get in the latter days, I still find our social issues very disturbing, which in turn makes me sad for God, and again the lost souls. And then to put a little icing on the cake, you also have some well-meaning but misguided believers turning to over-the-top pressure tactics, thinking they’re leading someone to the Lord when in actuality they are making them run the complete opposite direction, hindering the process of conversion by interfering with the Holy Spirit’s work, which I’ll speak more about below in order to make my point.

Yes, It can be very frustrating when you see something so clearly, so simple, so personally life-saving, and with a sure guarantee of freedom in spiritual eternity, but people think you are nuts and don’t want to hear it. And even with some, the feeling of having to put on full armor if you are going to discuss it, or turning a calm topic into nothing more than a can of agitated worms. Bottom line — to people who haven’t been saved, it is like you are speaking a language they can’t come close to understanding. You are speaking rhetoric. And this is because it’s true — to them, you truly are! This is called spiritual blindness.

To be spiritually blind is not to see Christ, and not to see Christ is not to see God. Spiritual blindness is an oppressive condition experienced by those who do not believe in God, Jesus Christ, and His Word. The spiritually blind are simply unable to understand God’s Word and message. And that is literally, unable. I never fully realized this until recently — I just thought it was more of a choice of whether or not to study up on it in order for it to make sense. But now I’ve learned, you must be “born again” — with the Holy Spirit dwelling in you — in order for it to make any sense. As the Bible says:

But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

So, if this is the case, then what am I doing in writing this blog that may be read by unbelievers? Why even bother sharing the Word to people who don’t understand it? Especially these days when persecution of the church is so much on the rise?

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

So what do we do? Well, we keep on doing what we are doing. We pray, and pray even more. And keep on sharing the gospel and planting seeds with as many people God places in our paths to do so, because the Holy Spirit has already stepped in to do His magnificent work. We just need the Word to be heard — He does the rest.

There are many awesome things the Holy Spirit does for us (as our “Helper”), but one of His major roles is to convict, or convince, the world of sin by producing in people a sense of guilt and wrongdoing before a Holy God. He uses this conviction to cause unbelievers to see their need for Jesus Christ. Have you noticed how a lot of people don’t come to Christ until they hit rock bottom? And that usually always comes with an admittance of sin? Reaching out because there is nothing left to reach out to? And then noticed how healing immediately begins once someone accepts Christ as Savior and Lord? Once lost, now found; was blind, but now can see. Just like that! Because this is also when the Holy Spirit begins giving incredible insight to what God’s Word says and means. He gives us assurance that Jesus Christ is real and has come into our lives. He teaches us to pray, and seals us with His guarantee of our future inheritance of eternal life in heaven with Him. And more — so much more. And, so very supernatural! But! You have to experience it to ever understand it, and the only way to experience it and understand it is to accept Him. Once you learn to walk by faith, not by sight, it all starts making amazing sense.

On the flip side of the coin are some of the reasons “why” this blindness is a reality. I’m going to save that for another post, but let’s just say “the deceiver” plays a huge role, and why prayer is a critical component when it comes to the salvation of those we love. So very important!

For me, all of this comes with a great reminder that God already has this (of course!). Many of you reading this already know the Holy Spirit and already understand this. For me, it is also a huge reminder that we are not to judge, because we all know that is so easy to do. If people don’t understand, it’s because they can’t understand. Be patient and let the Holy Spirit do His work. He is the one to convict and convince — not us! Again, our job is to pray, to love, to light up the world in His name, and go plant as many seeds as we possibly can. Other than that, it’s going to be solely between God and man’s God-given freewill to determine the outcome of that personal relationship.

Thanks for reading.

Holding fast,

Lori

^{Photography by Marsha Danilova}

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17)