What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” Romans 11:7-8
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 2 Thessalonians 2:9
May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. Psalms 69:23
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. Isaiah 30:10
How does one keep eyes that see and ears that can hear? How does one stay in the place where you can receive the ‘Word of the Lord’ which you need so dearly to make it through the time of the season you are currently in? How do I keep myself from being deceived? How can I tell if I’ve already been deceived? How can I tell if I’ve already accepted certain lies as truth? How do I truly discern the things of God? How do I know what really is eternal? How exactly do I lay up treasures in heaven? What are the most important things in life? Are you a person who questions and wants to know the truth about things? Do you want to know God with a burning desire within you? Are you passionate about learning from Him? Are you always looking for a deeper relationship with Him?
The answer(s) begin with Him. Who is Him? The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Each will play a role in your life if you will let Him. The mystery of the Trinity, the great “I AM”, the person of Jesus, and the sent Holy Spirit who is waiting to be invited into your life completely. Jesus wants to baptize (immerse) you completely with the Holy Spirit, all you need to do is ask Him. The Holy Spirit will become your Teacher constantly bringing you into deeper relationship with the Three. The Holy Spirit helps you to begin to understand the ways and heart of God. The Holy Spirit helps you understand the scriptures when you read them. He is the One where you get suave for your eyes to see, and the clarity to hear Him.
So your heart posture before Him is crucial when you come before Him (His Throne). Real humility with a contrite heart (understanding your own iniquities), being able to recognize ALL that He has done for you (a real heart of gratefulness), and with repentance (a real desire to go in the opposite direction you’ve been going), asking Him for forgiveness (acknowledging to Him and yourself what you’ve done is wrong), asking Him to cleanse (wash) you clean.
With God .. relationship is the goal. The deeper the intimate relationship with Him the more spiritual maturity is gained. The more intimate the conversations you have with Him the more wisdom is received from Him. The more real humility is understood and adopted in your heart the more trust He will have with you. The more you search Him out for everything …the more He will share with you.
And all the opposite is real as well. The hard of heart, spiritually blind, and those deaf to the Truth will only increase in their state of being. Those who are only selfish in desire and pursuit will reap also eternally.
What are you ‘sowing’ into eternity?
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. John 15:6
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15
How long is this life compared to eternity? How important is heaven to you? How important is your relationship with Him? Or you just ‘playing’ religion?