Understanding Darkened

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” (Eph. 4:18) “…they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 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.” (Jn. 12:39-40) Again, we read: “For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.” (Job 17:4)

It is a false assumption to imagine that all men are endowed with the liberty to believe and understand all things. The above texts clearly reveal that the spiritual ability to believe and to understand the principles of God is guarded in the hand of His purpose. By mercy and grace He enlightens whom He wills. However, it is equally disclosed that there are those whom He darkens their understanding. God’s precious gift of understanding must not be taken as an absolute, for there are adequate evidences to the fact that God does harden hearts with the darkness of their understanding. The Almighty is not obligated to cast His pearls before the swine.

In Proverbs we read: “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”(Prov. 18:2) The natural state of lost men cares only for “self” and all that feeds the embodiment of “self”. The unregenerate heart has no desire to know God; it craves only to discover itself. The lost soul is encapsulated in the abyss of darkness having no ability to see or understand beyond the darkness. It cannot intrude into the light. The God who is Light must of His sovereignty command light to shine in the dungeon of darkness.

May the Father of glory be gracious to “give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding be enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” (Eph. 1:17-18) “…to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job)