"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, INVISIBLE, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1Tim 1:17). When I think of someone who is invisible, I think about growing up and seeing science fiction shows such as the "Invisible Man." The man is there, but no one can see him. You can bump into him, but you can't see him. But, is this what the Bible means when it says that God is invisible? I don't believe so. I think the way we think of invisibility and the way the Bible uses the term "invisible" are quite different.
For example, in the "Invisible Man," nobody can see him, not even himself. He looks in the mirror and sees nothing, so we say that is being invisible. However, in the Bible something might be invisible to us as humans, but not invisible to others, such as angels. It is true that man cannot see God, but God can be seen by heavenly beings, such as angels.
GOD FLIPS THE SWITCH SO THAT MAN CAN SEE GOD
"And he (Moses) said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory....... 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen" (Ex 33:18-23).
Moses could see God by faith, he could hear God's voice, but he could not see God's face, for he would die. The same is true with any other man. They would die instantly. But, even though "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24), that doesn't mean that He is some kind of invisible force and has no spiritual body. It's clear that God has a body and allowed Moses to see His back as He passed by. Yes, God and angels are invisible to us, but they are not invisible to each other. The Bible speaks of angels and heavenly beings ministering before the throne of God. In the book of Job, even Satan could approach and speak to God. But, not man, whose mortality could not withstand it.
This tells me that God, angels, and other heavenly beings are not really invisible, because they can see each other. They are only invisible to mankind. We can't see them, unless God allows us to as He did with Moses. So, God flips the switch and Moses can see God, but not His face.
Even though we cannot see God, by faith we know that He is there. He knows about us at all times. We can approach Him by prayer at all times. So, by faith we can see God. "By faith, He (Moses) ....... as seeing him who is invisible (Heb 11:27).
Jesus told Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit was like the wind. You can't see the wind. It's invisible to us. But, you know it's there because you can see the results of the wind with the trees moving for example. It's the same with the Holy Spirit. He is also invisible. We cannot see Him either, but we know He is there when you see the results of the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of believers. Only Christians, by faith, can see the workings of the Holy Spirit of God.
GOD FLIPS THE SWITCH SO THAT MAN CAN SEE ANGELS
Furthermore, if God wishes, He allows man, and even a donkey to see angelic beings. "Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand" (Num 22:31). You know the story. God opened the donkey's eyes in order to see the angel with a drawn sword, and the donkey would go no further even though Balaam was beating him onward. Then, God opens the eyes of Balaam so that he can also see the angel. Before hand, the angel was invisible to Balaam, then God flips the switch and now Balaam can see the angel.
Another example is in 2Kings 6:15, "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2Kings 6:15-17).
So, what happened here? Notice, it says God opened his eyes. God had already opened Elisha's eyes so that he could see this great host of angels. So, here are two men, one who can see the angels and one man who cannot see them. The angels are visible to Elisha, but invisible to his servant. Elisha prays to God for the servant's eyes to be opened, and God flips the switch so the servant can also see the angels. So, now the angels are visible to both, but still invisible to all other humans. Was it just a few angels they saw? No, more than just a few. "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place" (Ps 68:17). Remember when Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, that he didn't need it for help, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Mat 26:53).
The Bible is saying that God and angelic beings are invisible, but not to each other, but only invisible to humans. However, they can become visible to humans if God wishes it to be so.
Furthermore, it seems that the heavenly beings don't turn on or off a switch for themselves to become visible or invisible, but that the switch is with the human, not the angel. Notice in both cases with Balaam and Elisha, it was God who "opened the eyes" of the humans, thus the switch was on the human, not the angels. So, in the case of angels, I don't believe they turn their invisibility on and off, but it's God who flips the switch on the human to either see or not see the angel. So, are angels really invisible? Yes, but only to mankind, unless God flips our switch so that we can see them.
GOD FLIPS THE SWITCH SO THAT MAN CANNOT SEE MAN
Not only do we see human beings being prevented from seeing angels or God, but men can also be prevented from seeing another man. When Jesus came to earth, He took upon the body of humanity, having flesh and bones, thus He became man, God in the flesh.
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by" (John 8:58, 59).
I often wondered how Jesus walked by that crowd that was searching for him, without anyone seeing Him. Did Jesus become invisible? No, but it could be that God flipped the switch in that crowd of people so that they could not see Jesus as He walked right through the center of them, so in a sense, He was invisible to them, because they could not see Him. God could see Him, and the angels could see Him, but to that crowd of humans, Christ was invisible. I believe even other humans standing at a distance could probably see Jesus as He passed through that crowd, providing that God only threw the switch on the crowd. Jesus was not invisible, but was only so to those searching for Him.
I always wondered how, after the resurrection, Jesus came into the room where His disciples were hiding in John 20:19. I often heard preachers say that after Jesus was resurrected, that He had a glorified body and could appear and disappear wherever He wanted, so he just walked through the walls of that room because the door was shut. Well, maybe or maybe not.
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you" (John 20:19).
And, in Luke 24:36, "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:36-39).
Now, to me, it's highly unlikely that the Lord walked through the walls that day. If you do believe that, then you are implying that He was a spirit or ghost, which is what the disciples thought. But, verse says, He had flesh and bones. Now, I realize that God can do anything, and He could have put Christ in that room in a supernatural way, placing Him right in the midst of them. But, it is more likely that He came in through the door without them seeing Him, and He walked over and stood in midst of them, and then God opens their eyes like He did with Elisha's servant, so they can see Him. Whatever happened, it led them to believe He was a ghost. How can He just appear in their midst? Well, I believe it was switch off, now switch on. Now, they don't see Him, now they do. But, He never was invisible. They just couldn't see Him, until God was ready for them to.
We also see how this works when we look at Jesus walking with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. , "And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. (Luke 24:15, 16).
Now, here it is a little different from the previous example. Here is seems the switch is only half way turned on. They could see Him, but they were not allowed to know it was Jesus. His true identity was withheld from them. This means that normally, they would have recognized Him, but now "their eyes were holden that they should not know him." But, later, they welcomed Him to abide with them and to join them in a meal, "And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight" (Luke 24:30, 31).
As Jesus prayed, blessed the food, and gave to them, the Bible says, "their eyes were opened." Well, what does that mean? Well, I don't think it means that they finally realized who he was. No, it was when God was ready to allow them to know it was Jesus. God who had previously closed their eyes to who Jesus was, now opens their eyes to see that this man is Jesus to whom they have been speaking about. Switch half way off, now switch on. But, God flipped it. Then, it says He vanished out of their sight. Does that mean Jesus disappears? Well, I often thought that in the past, but, in light of everything else we've seen, He didn't vanish or become invisible. God just closed their eyes to where they could not see Him at all. He is still there. They just can't see Him as He gets up and leaves. Now, their switch goes from on to all the way off.
Well, somebody might say that this man who could become invisible to other men was Jesus, but He was God in the flesh. Was there any other man that became invisible to other men? Well, yes, Peter, for example.
"....put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; .....Peter therefore was kept in prison: ......the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews" (Acts 12:5-11).
The angel of the Lord opened locked doors, raised Peter up from being chained between two soldiers, caused the chains to fall off, and led him out of the prison past sixteen soldiers (four quaternions) that were guarding him, and then flung open the iron gate leading into the city. Now, I grant you that the light that shined into the prison could have blinded the guards, but it doesn't say that. No doubt in my mind that the angel was already invisible to the guards, and then Peter who was with the angel could have become invisible to them also, thus a man becoming invisible to other men.
Another example: "And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, ..... 22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within" (Acts 5:18, 19, 22, 23). Now, wonder how that happened? The "angel of the Lord" opened the prison doors, brought the disciples out, and they walked right past the "keepers standing without before the doors." Were the angel and the disciples invisible? No, not really in the way we use the term. They could see each other, so they weren't truly invisible. They were only invisible to the guards. God flipped the switch on the guards so that they could not see the angel or the disciples, thus they were invisible, but only to the guards.
GOD FLIPS THE SWITCH SO MAN CANNOT SEE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS
Not only did the Lord blind people from seeing physically, but also spiritually. He would flip the switch and they would not be able to see spiritually. Or, He could flip it and they would understand things spiritually. But, God would keep people from seeing the truth because their hearts were not right toward Him. In the Bible, truth is often mentioned as "light." There must be light for us to see what is there. Darkness, which is an absence of light, often refers to not being able to see the truth. Now, the Bible says that God has given every man some truth concerning God's existence, and if man will respond to that truth, then they will be given more truth. John says, "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). Who? "Every man." Or, every person, because the Greek word used here is "mankind", not male. So, every person born has been given some light.
Then, in Romans 1, Paul says, "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Rom 1:19-21).
Warning!!! Calvinist Spoiler Alert! These verses are saying that "because that which may be known of God is manifest in them." Do you know what that means? Paul is saying the same thing John said, that Jesus is the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. It has been manifested in them. Also, Creation is a witness of God's existence, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen....". So, mankind is without excuse. There is internal evidence of an inner light in our hearts, and there is external evidence of a Creator.
God has manifested in every human being an ability to know God. Man was designed and built for God. However, because of the fall and sin, man became corrupt, but there is still a desire to worship something, but usually the wrong object such as money, self, other gods, or whatever. So, because of this light given to every man, he has the ability to seek God, and will find Him if they will only respond to the truth that is given to them. However, if they won't seek more truth, then God will take away what truth they have, darken their hearts, and turn them over to a reprobate mind (vs 28), no longer knowing the difference between light and darkness or right and wrong (vs 21). God flips the switch, and the light is off.
When men reject the truth, then their heart becomes darker concerning the truth. Then, there comes that time when God flips the switch, and they no longer can see anything spiritually. Because the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah, even His miracles didn't cause a dent in their estimation of Him. "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them" (John 12:40). They won't accept the truth God is giving them, so God hardens their heart. God flips their switch so they can no longer see. The light is gone. They are blinded. The truth has now become invisible to them.
Regardless of what the Calvinist say, God does not force the truth on any person. God only responds to what people do with the amount of light or truth that He has put into every person. Every person is responsible for the light given to them, so they are without excuse. If the Calvinist are right, then this passage in Romans 1 makes no sense at all. I asked a Calvinist one time about "total depravity" if it was the same thing as being "reprobate" and he said yes, it's means the same thing. Then, I asked him, "well, how can God turn them over to a "reprobate mind" (vs 28) if they are already "totally depraved?" You know, how can He give someone over to a reprobate mind if they are already reprobate. He had no answer, but just changed the subject.
But, the main point here, is that God is the one that flips the switch, but man is responsible for which way He flips it. Notice:
"Their foolish heart was darkened" (vs 21). How? By God. God darkened their heart. Why? Because, they "became vain in their imaginations." God did not indiscriminately darken their hearts. No, he did it as a direct result of them becoming vain in their imaginations. And a closer reading indicates that they were not always vain, but they became that way, and the consequence was God darkened their heart. It didn't just happen automatically on it's own in each person. No, God did it. He flipped the switch.
1) "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness" (vs24). It says, that God gave them up. Why? Because, of the lust of their own hearts......".
2) "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections" (vs 26). Why? Because, with the light God had given them, they "changed the truth of God into a lie" (vs 25).
3) "God gave them over to a reprobate mind" (vs28). Why did God do that? Because, "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge." Hey, they didn't want what little light God had given them. They didn't want God at all. So, God gave them what they wanted, a "reprobate mind." He turns them over to "total darkness." Total depravity.
Three times, it says, "God gave them up to or over to." He gave up on them. It wasn't always that way, but the time came when He gave them over to darkness. He turned the switch off, and it was a direct result of what they were doing. Because you do these things, it results in God taking action.
What were they doing to cause God to take action against them?
1) They had "become vain in their imaginations."
2) Because, of the lust of their own hearts
3) Because they "changed the truth of God into a lie"
4) Because they "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge."
Hmm. Sounds kind of like today, doesn't it. Lots of people out there today that are vain, lustful, don't want to think about God, and twist the Scriptures into saying what they want them to say. They would say that is not nearly as bad as murder, being a racist, stealing, or whatever people think bad acts are. But, God sees it differently.
Also, notice similar to the verse about becoming reprobate, verse 22 says, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools..." (vs22). Just like man was not always reprobate, or totally depraved, they weren't always fools either. They weren't born that way. God says, "They became fools." Also, vs 21 indicates that they weren't born in total darkness. It clearly says, "their foolish heart was darkened." Again, how can it be darkened if it were already totally dark?
Thus, men are not born as fools, nor in total darkness, nor with a reprobate mind, and neither are they totally depraved which means the same thing. But, they become that way if they reject the light that has been "manifested" in their hearts and by the evidence of Creation.
Christians that Can't See Truth
So, we have been looking at lost people rejecting God's truth and the consequences of them doing that, but what about Christians? Can they reject God's truths? Yes, they can, but when they do, then there will be chastening, discipline, and absence of any spiritual growth.
"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able" (1Cor 3:1,2).
If Christians refuse or ignore truth, then they will remain carnal, babes in Christ, and will only understand "milk" of the word, not the "meat" of the word. So, the switch is half way. They only understand basic truths. Hebrews 6:1 says, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;" or maturity. Most Christians know only the simple basic doctrines concerning Christ and God's truths in His Word, but they don't go much further. They don't grow. They can only handle any deeper truths or their heads explode. Just give me some milk and let me suck on the bottle like a baby. That's how most of them are.
However, God expects more out of His Children. He wants us to grow and become more familiar with His Word, so we can have a deeper fellowship with Him and His Son. Paul said, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, (mature man) unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4:13). How can we know Christ better if we don't understand what the Bible says about Him? How can any baby understand adult like concepts and principles? They can't, and they never will unless they grow and become an adult. Carnal Christians are always going to be babes in Christ throughout their entire lives and die that way, unless they see their need to grow and ask God to help them grow and get deeper in the Word. God will flip their switch, and they will begin to see and understand deeper truths. Otherwise, enjoy your baby bottle, because it's all that you can handle.
No doubt, that most Christians want to stay babies, because it may cost them something to grow in Christ. A baby is comfortable being a baby because there is someone around to meet their needs and take care of them. They don't have to worry much. Just cry and get what you want. In the same way, a Christian may be more comfortable being a babe in Christ, and may shirk at the idea of going deeper in spiritual things. To do so will bring challenges, hardships, and trials.
Paul before salvation seemed to have it made being a Hebrew of the Hebrew, a Pharisee, and had a great pedigree and education. He had a great position in life and was well respected. But, then Paul got saved, fell in love with the Lord, and later said, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ..." (Phil 3:8). Paul lost a lot when he got saved and began to mature as a Christian, getting deeper in fellowship with Christ. But, Paul counted all those things he lost for Christ as being to him like manure. Now, I don't believe this to be an exaggeration. I believe Paul meant it. His standing, lofty reputation, sparkling education all was like cow patties to him now. There was no comparison between his increasing knowledge of Christ and all these other things that at one time most important to him.
But, most Christians today are not like Paul. They would rather give up the knowledge of Christ than to suffer a little loss in this life. "Better to remain a babe and play with my toys. I don't want to become an adult. It might be hard and difficult." That's the way babies think.
Now, the switch is not on, nor is it off, but somewhere in between. It's like one of those dimmer switches that you turn the knob and it gradually increases or decreases the light. Problem is the person doesn't turn it up or down. God turns it, and He has it turned down to the dimmest level, so they can see a little light, but they aren't much better than a lost person whose in complete darkness. This malnourished baby Christian is even sometimes mistaken for a lost person, but no, they are saved and will get into heaven by the skin of their teeth, yet with the smell of hell fire still on their souls.
"And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1Peter 4:18). The word "scarcely" implies that there is some difficulty, or obstruction, so that their salvation came very near not to happen, or so that there was risk involved in it not happening. They barely got saved, and they barely grow.
Remember the guy in First Corinthians chapter 5 that was living in fornication? He was part of the church there and claimed to be a Christian, and I believe he was, just not a good one. He was a carnal Christian, probably one of the babes in Christ sucking on a baby's bottle. But, Paul ordered them "to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1Cor 5:5). This is saying that this guy is just "scarcely" getting into heaven with great difficulty or obstruction getting there. Yes, by the Grace of God, he will get there for sure, but it will require the destruction of his flesh, the loss of his life. I believe this to be the "sin unto death" that John spoke of, which is a Christian that is living in sin and bringing public shame on the name of Christ. Now, all he has to do is to repent, quit living with his father's wife, and everything is fine, but he won't do that, so God is going to chasten him by having him tossed out of the church and then let the devil do his number on him. And, what does the devil like to do to Christians? Devour them, or destroy them.
So, what do Christians need to do? Move forward. Grow as a Christian. Read God's Word, and ask Him to help you to understand His truths, then be willing to submit yourself to them. Once you do that, then God will begin to turn that dimmer switch up to give you more light, and help you to understand it better. Now, you have obstacles such as previous brain washings, and your mind being programmed with errors with man-made traditions and commandments of men being taught as God's doctrine. You need to forget all this and get reprogrammed by God in His Word.
SO MAN CAN SEE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS
So, Christians, don't get the big head because you have responded to God's light and you discovered some spiritual truths. Be careful, because it is not you seeing the Light and understanding it. It's God opening your eyes to it. "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: ........even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. .......... 14 But the natural man (lost 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" (1Cor 2:10, 12, 14).
Yes, God opens the mind of the Christian so they can understand anything that is spiritual from the Bible. But, God flips our switch, that our eyes are open to see and to understand. This clearly says that the reason that we understand spiritual things is by the Holy Spirit. We can't understand the Bible unless God opens our eyes and the Holy Spirit enlightens us. "God has revealed them to us by His Spirit." This is so encouraging to me. Sometimes, I don't feel the Holy Spirit, but I know He is there because when I read and understand God's Word, it is such a blessing and then I realize that I would not understand it at all if I were not saved and have the Holy Spirit living in me.
Because the next verse says that lost people cannot understand the Word at all, for they cannot understand anything that is spiritual. "But, the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, .....neither can he know them." It's foolishness to him. I hear guys on TV that are so smart and say everything right concerning my views on politics. Seems like we agree almost 100%, but then they share something about God, the church, or the Bible, and they are just about wrong on everything they say. I often say, "how can they be so right on everything else, but so wrong when it comes to spiritual things? Why can't they see it. Because, they are natural men that "receive not the things of the Spirit of God, .....neither can they know them." They may claim to be Christians, and talk about God, but they don't have a clue.
Just give them the Gospel so they can get saved first, which is the starting point where they act upon the truth of Christ as Savior, then the Holy Spirit has something to work with in them understanding more spiritual truth from the Bible. Which brings me to this most important part of this writing of God turning off the switch to blind men from the truth, particularly the Old Testament.
GOD FLIPS THE SWITCH SO MAN CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE OLD TESTAMENT
Now, the Old Testament is not an easy book to understand. It was all written before Christ came, and it contains many pictures, types, symbols, and prophesies concerning Him. Also, there were different dispensations there that have to be rightly divided so they won't bleed over into the New Testament. Even many so called Christians today error in applying Old Testament concepts and principles to the New Testament.
"And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away" (2Cor 3:13-16).
This says that God blinds the minds of the Jews concerning the truths of the Old Testament, and that this "veil" over their minds would only be taken away if they would receive Christ. In other words, they would never understand the Old Testament unless they see that Christ is it's central theme. No matter how educated, how smart they are, they will not understand it, because their switch has been turned off, being blinded to it by God.
Let me give an example. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, and a master teacher, intelligent and educated, knew the Old Testament as well as anyone at that time, but did not understand the spiritual things that Jesus spoke to him. Why? Because he had a veil over his heart and it needed to be removed.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? ..... 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" (John 3:10, 12). No matter how smart a man is, or how educated he is, like Nicodemus, he cannot understand the real meaning of the Old Testament unless his heart is open to accepting the fact that the Old Testament is all about the coming Messiah, and the Lord Jesus Christ is that Messiah. The veil must be removed, and only his accepting Christ will remove it, and later it would be removed, because we see Nicodemus as a believer (John 19:39).
It's interesting that Paul, another great Pharisee, who called himself a Pharisee, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, .... touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Phil. 3:5,6). When Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus, a bright light shone on him, Jesus spoke to him, and Paul was blinded for a few days. Paul was very educated in the Old Testament, "sitting at the feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God" (Acts 22:3). Highly educated Paul had lots of zeal toward God and for the Law, but had a veil over his heart and could not understand the truths of the Old Testament concerning Christ. He was not only physically blinded, but spiritually blinded as well. Ananias lays his hands on Paul and the Lord gives Paul back his physical sight. Paul also receives spiritual sight as his heart turns to the Lord Jesus Christ and the veil is lifted from his heart as he begins to fully understand the truths of the Old Testament.
Why do you think Paul, after getting saved, spent the first 3 years in Arabia and Damascus before returning to Jerusalem to meet the other apostles? I think it was for him to go back and read and study the Old Testament again, allowing the Holy Spirit to show him Christ throughout the Scriptures. Remember, the Old Testament was all there was at that time. He along with other apostles would 20 or 30 years later write the first books of the New Testament. So, it was all the Scriptures they had at that time. So, during this time, the veil has been lifted from Paul's heart, and the Holy Spirit is retraining and reprogramming him those three years in the desert.
Luke said in Acts 1:1, that his first "treatise" (the Gospel of Luke) was of "all that Jesus BEGAN both to do and teach...". In other words, Luke's Gospel only described the beginning of Christ's doings and teachings. There was more to come, and Luke expounds on it in the book of Acts of all that Christ was doing and teaching through the "Acts" of the Holy Spirit.
So, these are just a couple of examples of the veil being removed from hearts that had surrendered to Christ as being the Messiah. The same was true of the twelve disciples when they saw Christ say or do something and the Bible says, "And his disciples remembered that it was written" (from the Old Testament) concerning Christ.
GOD FLIPS THE SWITCH SO THAT MAN CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE NEW TESTAMENT
But, what about people today? Do these verses about the veil being over the heart so that a person cannot understand the Old Testament apply to people today? I think so. Not all church people are saved. I believe most of them are lost. So, I believe it wasn't just then, but now also. Yes, in context, people back then were rejecting Christ, but it's clear in the New Testament that not all people in the church are truly saved. They go through the motions and fool people into believing they are Christians. Many denominations today don't even preach the true Gospel, so most of their people are not saved.
Therefore, I believe this principle of the veil over the heart applies today to phony Christians and maybe even to weak carnal Christians. When people today put such an emphasis on the Old Testament and the law concerning salvation and in church practice, then what is going on?
It seems that most churches today practice Old Testament principles for the church. For more insight on this, please read my article "OLD TESTAMENT CHURCHES." You will see that many of the principles they practice such as tithing, the pastor/clergy system, the sanctuary, and so on, are from the Old Testament, not the New Testament where Paul clearly gives commands for our church practice.
Now, a big problem with this is that churches are preaching a legalistic Gospel with principles taken from the Old Testament. This was a problem in the early churches that were being exposed to teachings of being circumcised for salvation. Jesus wasn't enough. You also had to be circumcised. And, today He is not enough either, when they add baptism, good works, church membership, and etc.
So, the question is why do these people not understand the Old Testament? Many of them are very smart and educated, such as Paul and Nicodemus. They even may be able to point out Christ as pictured from the Old Testament. But, why do they mix Old Testament principles with New Testament principles when it comes to the Gospel and church practice? Why can they not rightly divide the Truth (2Tim 2:15)? Why can they not rightly divide the dispensation of Grace from the dispensation of Law? Well, I believe the answer is that the veil is still over their heart, and there is only one thing that will remove it.
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away" (2Cor 3:13-16). This is the key to having the veil removed from the heart so that one can understand the Old Testament. "When it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord."
So, the solution is that these people need to get their hearts right. They need to get their focus on Christ, not their denomination. Putting their focus on Christ and His Word alone will remove the veil and the darkness so that God can flip their switch and they can clearly see what the Bible teaches concerning Christ, the Gospel, and the Church. Otherwise, it's just going to be a mishmosh, a hodgepodge, and a jumbled up mess. That is exactly what we have today. Why are there so many denominations and different kinds of churches where they all see the Bible so differently? Their hearts are not turned toward the Lord. Their heart is toward their church and denomination. They can't see it. Their switch is off. Only God can turn it on so they can see His Word clearly, and He will not do this unless they sincerely turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.
SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FLIPPING THE SWITCH?
I have shown you that man cannot see or understand spiritual things unless God flips our switch so that we can see or not see them. He can turn the switch on or He can turn it off. The Bible is clear on that.
But, this may sound Calvinistic, that man is not responsible because God decides if the switch is going to be turned on or not. If God wants someone saved, then he turns on the switch so that person can see and understand the Gospel. However, if he doesn't turn on the switch, then that person will never see or understand, continuing to be lost and go to Hell. That is what Calvinists believe.
However, all the Scriptures given, clearly show that God flipped man's switch in response to man's desire to seek God. God showed Himself to Moses out of Moses's desire to see God. Moses requested it. Elisha prayed and asked God to open the eyes of his servant so he could also see the angels. When Peter was put in prison, "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." So, could it be that God flips the switch out of the response of man seeking God?
So, man's response is to seek God and then God takes action. As far as being blind to the Scriptures, man just needs to respond to what light God has given to him:
1) By Birth: "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9) and "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them;" (Rom 1:19a).
2) By Creation: "for God hath shewed it unto them" (Rom 1:19b). "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" (Rom 1:20).
Hey, this is clear! Man is without excuse! God has put some light, some truth in every man that has come into the world, that it is "manifested" in them, giving him a God-consciousness that he can know God. Animals don't have that. Only humans. Go to the darkest areas of the world and you can see human beings that are not much smarter than animals, but they are worshiping something. Furthermore, it says that Creation clearly shows that there is a Creator.
Amos 5:4 says, " ...... Seek ye me, and ye shall live:" How do we live? Seek God.
John 7:37 says, "Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." Are you thirsty spiritually? If so, go to Him, and He will satisfy that thirst.
Pr 15:14, says, "The heart of him that hath understanding (how do you get understanding?) seeketh knowledge: ...... ". Do you want to understand the Scriptures? Then seek it, and God will flip your switch and give you the knowledge and ability to understand it. A verse we have already looked at: "Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away" (2Cor 3:13-16).
If you want more understanding of the Lord and His Word, then turn your heart toward Him and you will find it. If not, then you won't find it. But, the point is, we are not robots that God turns the switch and activates us when we are not seeking it. No, the responsibility is with man to respond to the evidence that God has given to him. God has made the first move. He has put in our heart to know Him and has given us evidence in the world that He has created it. So, we must respond to the truth, and then seek more truth, and God will give us more truth and meet our needs and requests.
Is there an exception where man seeks God but cannot find Him? Sadly, yes. Proverbs 1 says that "then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
But, you will see that the reason God will not hear them is that the only reason they are seeking God is because they have hit hard times and want God to bail them out. They are not truly seeking God, but only to get out of trouble. I call this the "spare tire" approach. They look at God like a spare tire. When they have a flat or a blow out in life then they turn to God, their spare tire to bail them out of trouble. Then, it's back in the trunk again until they need Him again. But, listen, God is not going to be our spare tire to use when we get in trouble
"Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof" (Prov 1:24-30).
These people in the context in the verses had their opportunity to have God, but they rejected Him. God reached out to them, but they refused Him. So, when trouble in life comes, then they turn to Him, but then He will not hear them. God will not be someone's spare tire waiting to be used, nor someone's fire insurance policy.
So, the time to seek God is early. The time to understand His Word is early. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be for you to see you need and seek God to supply your need. It's your move first. God will not flip the switch unless you want it flipped. Jesus told His disciples: "for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5b). You must understand what that means. That you cannot flip your own switch. Only the Holy Spirit can flip your switch so you can see, understand, and do the things that God wants in your life.
Paul said, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). But, we must want God to work in us, and then allow Him to work in us. God will turn the dimming switch to full brightness if we desire that He do that. Pray that God will open your eyes and give you more insight into His Word, to understand it better each day so that He can perform His will in your life. If you want more light, He will give you more light. If you want a closer walk, you can have it. If you want more knowledge of the Lord Jesus, you can have it. Through prayer, ASK for it. Ask, Seek, and Knock, and God will open it up for you. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Mat 7:7).
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" (2Cor 9:8).
In Jesus Name,
James B. Sparks
jb5sparks@aol.com
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