Have you ever gone swimming, only to emerge with a blocked ear? After a few minutes of futile attempts to clear it out (e.g., smacking your head in public), you abandon all hope and choose to live with muffled hearing until your ear decides to clear out the matter on its own. As is the case with many discomforts, our brain somehow dampens it from our consciousness, allowing us to go on with life.
But what about that feeling you get when your ear finally unblocks itself, huh? You’ve been living with suboptimal hearing for so long, the returned acuity is nothing short of awesome! Sounds become so much clearer that life is immediately enriched, and, in the case of believers, we look heavenward and thank the Lord for returning our hearing back to normal.
The same goes with eyeglasses, when you finally put them back on after spending time without them. Boom – clarity is a beautiful thing!
Reading the Bible is like that. In fact, it’s designed to be. That’s why whenever your life becomes a bit “muffled”, you ought to go to your Bible to get your hearing “unblocked”. If you spend too much time away from the Word of God, swimming in the world system of thinking, you will inevitably suffer blocked hearing and, if left unattended, “swimmer’s ear”, where infection can take root, leaving you in constant pain.
It’s an awful place to be when you cannot hear God’s Word even while you’re reading it or sitting in church. We children of God should always hear His voice and if it becomes “muffled”, we need to get out of the world’s pool of false wisdom and get back into the Word!
Jesus said on multiple occasions, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:23). In other words, we need to listen to His voice as it is articulated in Holy Scripture. The more we listen, the greater the acuity of our hearing! So, listen up!
The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
– Psalm 119:130
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand God’s Word. In my experience, the higher the IQ, the more pitfalls people are challenged with avoiding (I think it has something to do with being smart enough to see the world with great clarity and then being tempted by what you see; but I’m no psychologist, so I’ll stop there). For example, have you read Mary’s Magnificat lately (Luke 1:46-55)? There’s no reason to believe that Mary had a remarkable IQ or was exceptionally learned; however, based on her beloved worship, she seemed wonderfully equipped with spiritual wisdom! She had as much clarity as anyone, ever, save Jesus.
If we open our hearts to God’s Word, the Lord grants us clarity. This gives us conviction and steadfastness during trials and tribulations. The more difficult the situation, the more we thirst for it. However, clarity is seldom derived under pressure; rather, it precedes it.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
– Psalm 32:8-9
Seek clarity before you need to put it to good use!
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
– James 1:5
We humans are forced to make thousands of decisions every day. Where will you be and how exhausted, anxious, and discouraged will you be if you lack clarity? Very. Avoid such things by going to the Word so you are enabled to see pitfalls before you fall into them!
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Few things are sweeter than possessing clarity in this life. God’s Word lights the path before us (Psalm 119:130), especially for those of us who keep it simple. Perfect wisdom epitomizes simplicity. Leave your IQ at the door and see what humility before Holy Scripture can do for you.
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
– Proverbs 16:24
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
– Psalm 19:7-11
So, the next time you’re struggling to hear God’s voice because your hearing is muffled, immediately drop everything and go to His Word. Clarity is a beautiful thing, my friend. Sometimes you don’t even realize how much of it you’ve been missing until your ears are unblocked. What a glorious day that is – thanks be to God!!!
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins