THURSDAY June 6, 2024

Darkened Minds

...having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Ephesians 4:18-19

Paul used a list of words to describe those who do not know Christ. The word darkened in the Greek language means “to darken or to blind the mind.” Those who do not know God, and who do not have the light of His Word, remain spiritually blind. Their minds are constantly taken over by the spiritual darkness at work in our world.

The word alienated means “to be estranged from God.” Those without Christ cannot be friends of God. The Scriptures warn: Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4). On the other hand, Jesus is a friend to those who obey Him: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14).

The word ignorance denotes “an ignorance of divine things.” Non-believers remain ignorant because they do not know God and His Word. The word blindness of heart means “hardness or covering with a callous.” When you cut your finger, as it heals, the cut can actually become hard––calloused. People have a heart problem––a hardened heart. It is like having a diseased heart when a person has hardening of the arteries. In Christ a person can have a renewed heart. As we share the love of Christ with them, may the Holy Spirit pursue them.

When people fail to tune their ears, hearts and minds to the Word of God, they live without hope. God’s Word is powerful. It can break through their hardened hearts: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). God can reach them with His Word.

In your own mind–darkened, will–paralyzed, conscience–dulled soul, God can make the light penetrate and turn the darkness of your own life into day, if you will let him.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!