I recently read an article about how to avoid hearing loss,
and thought immediately of Jesus' words: “Those who have ears to hear, let them
hear” (Matt. 11:15). He was not speaking to an audience of ‘earless’
people, nor who had suffered severe hearing losses. Jesus meant that their ears needed to be attuned to spiritual ‘sounds.’
In this world where we encounter a continuous cacophony of noise so loud “you can't hear yourself think,” our ears can suffer damage (hearing losses are on the rise especially among teens). Significantly, the article on avoiding hearing loss suggested “turning down the volume.” So it is in the spiritual realm: many believers are suffering hearing loss because they do not have a quiet time. If you daily give the ears of your spirit quiet and
rest, they are more likely to hear what the Spirit says” (Rev. 3:22).
“Enter into your secret chamber and shut out the tumults of
the world. In silence and in stillness a devout soul profits and learns the
hidden things of the Scriptures.” Thomas a Kempis, 1450
I mentioned last week that Altha and I had visited a Greek Orthodox Monastery. The quiet and solitude was a stark contrast to 21st century noise-filled lifestyles. So accustomed to the non-stop sounds of TV, radio, iPods and cell phones, people find no place for silence. Moreover, there is the the mental “noise” of social networking, emailing, texting and tweeting.
When was the last time you heard silence?—the sound of nothing, being alone with your thoughts. Part of the purpose of a daily “quiet time” is to quiet your mind of distractions and open your spirit to hear from the Lord. In the late 1950’s A.W. Tozer wrote: “God is having a difficult time getting through to us because we are a fast-paced generation. We seem to have no time for contemplation. We have no time to answer God when He calls.” I wonder what Tozer would think about today’s digitally distracted generation?
To be “well-connected” used to mean that someone was connected by blood or close acquaintance with people of wealth and influence. Now it means you have a lot of apps on your iPhone. I think “well-connected” is an accurate way to describe someone who hears from God every day. But our digital connections are making it more difficult than ever to be still, and know God (Ps. 46:11).
Fifty years ago, A. W. Tozer said “people don’t really like to think for themselves; they want others to do it for them.” Since Tozer wrote those words, a media explosion has ushered us into the “information” age. But along with the flood of facts is the responsibility to evaluate what is really true. Few give this the time and discipline it requires. Too many settle for sound bites.
I am not speaking of encyclopedic knowledge (history, science, math, etc.), but of the philosophies, ideas, opinions, and points-of-view that form our worldview by telling us what to believe and who to trust. Tozer’s statement turns out to be very prophetic.
The spiritual parallel to this is the plethora of Christian books, magazines, commentaries, TV and radio programs, and websites that make it so easy for you to gather information about any Christian topic. Warning! Acquiring information is not the same as increasing in knowledge—don't confuse the two. It isn’t “information, or even knowledge that will make you free.” Jesus said “truth will make you free.”
What is truth and how do you get it? How do we move from acquiring information to growing in truth? The Holy Spirit is the only One who can turn information into knowledge, and knowledge into into "truth." (Eph. 1:17). When you read the word of God, don't take it in as though it were "information." Think of the Word of God as alive (Heb. 4:12) and able to transform you. And do not expect to understand it with your mind. But pray for revelation.
