Print
How could Judas, a chosen disciple of Jesus Christ, have become so insensitive as to the person and mission of his Master that he betrayed Him into the hands of His enemies?
How could Samson, a God-appointed Judge of Israel, have succumbed to the manipulation of Delilah to the point where he not only lost the presence of God but he wasn't even aware of that loss?
King David is yet another example of how unresolved sin robs us of our spiritual awareness and sensitivity. David abused his position and power as a King, he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then arranged the murder of Bathsheba's husband to make it look like a casualty of war. In all this, there is no mention of confession.
David thought he had covered all the bases, tied up all the lose ends so that none of this need ever be brought up again. But the biblical record closes this chapter with the words, "But the Lord was displeased with what David had done".
Something like 12 months passed. Maybe longer. The de-sensitizing power of unresolved sin continued to do its insidious work. The prophet, Nathan, was commissioned by the Lord to go and confront King David. Wisely Nathan chose to tell David a parable - a story - that contained all the dynamics of David's own behaviour one year earlier. Only the characters and names had been changed so as to get the King to condemn himself out of his own mouth.
Such was David's insensitivity that he didn't even recognize himself in Nathan's story. He exploded in 'righteous indignation', issued a judgment much more severe than required by the Law and was shattered when Nathan pointed the finger of accusation at David and pierced his heart with the words, "You are that man!!"
We condemn with greater passion the sin of others that we see in ourselves.
The Apostle Paul was well aware of this insensitivity of spirit. He made reference to people "whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron". (1 Tim 4:2 NIV) The product of this searing was a loss of feeling and sensitivity. What once was responsive is now without feeling.
The good news is this: the Holy Spirit has not left us. We may have driven Him deeper in our lives but we haven't driven Him out. His presence and activity may be less obvious (as though He was no longer within our lives) but He remains. He can re-activate our spiritual sensitivity and awareness. He wants to do that. It will mean facing up to those thoughts, actions, attitudes and words that have been allowed to reside unresolved in our lives. But it will also mean a re-energized, sensitized relationship with our Heavenly Father.
