"Yet, the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive,
and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day."
Deuteronomy 29:4
The theater was promoting a 3-D motion picture. Those who entered the room without special glasses to see the movie would not be able to see and understand. The special glasses were provided with the price of admission. Likewise, people may go to church, read the Bible, listen to preachers, but they will never understand until God gives them a heart to perceive, eyes to see and ears to hear. A transformation must take place in the heart by the grace of God. Jesus referred to it as the new birth. Only the Holy Spirit can make that change in our hearts, as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Moses led the children of Israel through the wilderness. God performed miracles before their very eyes, but most of them did not have eyes to see and understand. They continued to turn away from God to idol worship. Moses told them the truth, but he understood that only God could change their hearts. So many times we may be tempted to think that people would change their minds about God, if they could only see Him perform a miracle. The people in the wilderness saw sensational miracles, but their hearts were not changed. They, like all of us, needed God to give them a heart to understand.
A college student tried to find God through philosophy, new age books and mystical experiences. Nothing worked. Every avenue that he traveled only proved to be a dead end. In desperation he prayed, "God, if you are real, change my life that I may know You. I am helpless and hopeless." That prayer was the turning point in his life. There was no miracle for his eyes to see. There was no special feeling or mystical experience. As he began to read the Bible, for the very first time he really did understand. God had given him a heart to understand.
God, give us a heart to understand all that You have for us.
