State of Insensibility The state of insensibility is a most serious and dangerous condition for anyone to be in. There have been many that have fallen to this tyrant and ended up lost forever. The word insensitive means "being unresponsive to feeling, without sensation, numb, unaware, not susceptible to agencies or influences". When a person gets to the place in their life of being past feeling, there is very little hope of him (or her) ever being reached with the Gospel. Thus, the second coming of Christ or death can catch that person unaware and unprepared to meet God. The Apostle Paul gave us good admonition when he penned, Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. I Thessalonians 5:6-8. Christians, followers of Christ, are in "the day"; the unsaved are those of the night ("the night" being the darkness of sin). Every child of God needs to stay alert and on guard against such a spirit as insensitivity. How Insensibility Comes About This dull, sleepy condition that fastens itself upon humanity does not come upon us suddenly, unexpectedly, or overnight. It strikes saint and sinner alike and is a slow process that works gradually on each of our hearts. Its purpose is to cut off the reality of God's Word, the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives, and the effect that both of them have over our lives. How and why does such a condition come about? More often than not, it comes about after a person has been presented with the Gospel and makes a conscious decision to not accept it. God deals with that person's heart, shows them a need of Him in their life, gives them a desire to know greater light and understanding of Him. However, something causes them to turn away and reject His counsel. When an individual chooses to go his own way instead of taking God's Way, he can rest assured that God will allow him to do so. But when the righteousness and judgment of God are forsaken or refused, there always comes a leanness of soul and delusion of heart and mind. If any of us allow that old feeling which the enemy brings around so often of, "You do not have to do this or that to be a Christian," to set up in our mind, we need to understand that such thinking can lead to complete destruction. Regardless of who we are, our station in life, where we are from, none of us have the privilege of sorting through the Bible to pick and choose what suits us and reject the rest. In order to have (and keep) a keen spiritual heart and mind, we must accept and consume the entire Word of God as He desires to reveal it to us. Do NOT ever allow any spirit (of any kind) to come in and take up residence in your heart and mind that will cause you to become hardened against the Gospel of Christ. There are vast numbers of folks who have sat in a congregation for years, hearing the man of God deliver the message time after time, but they still refuse to take it seriously. When the Word and the Spirit are rejected, there is a numbing process that begins. Each time we override it, that voice becomes fainter until it can no longer be heard. It is vital to each and every one of us that we prevent this from happening. We must be diligent in prayer, lend a close ear to the bidding of the Holy Spirit, and be quick to obey the Word of God. Oh, and by the way, know this: the Holy Spirit will NEVER bid you to do something that is contrary to the Word of God! Examples of Insensibility There are many examples found throughout the Bible of people who failed to take heed to the Word of God. He called repeatedly to men and women who had erred from right principles. But because of rebellion in their heart against God's law, they turned a deaf ear to His voice and went on their selfish way, thinking they could get along just as well without Him. Friends, what a foolish mistake for anyone to make! O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23. Without God's divine direction, all will fall in the ditch. In Noah's day, the Scriptures tell us that the wickedness of mankind was great and the imaginations of their hearts were continually evil. Noah, however, found favor in God's sight and the Lord chose to use him to try to awaken the people from the numbing spirit that had captivated their hearts and minds. After many years of faithfully laboring, Noah was still unsuccessful in waking them from the slumber they were in. There lives were much like ours today--they were living to please the flesh, giving no thought to eternal consequences. They were fulfilling the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. They were taken up in the encumbering things of life. Jesus referred to them when speaking to His disciples about the signs of His coming. He told them that the antidiluvians ...knew not until the flood came, and took them all away... Matthew 24:39. What a horrible place to be in life, when our adversary, the devil, has so completely overwhelmed people to the place they are unable to feel the Spirit of God move on their hearts! The prophet Ezekiel found himself in the midst of a people that had become rebellious. It is surprising to think that God's chosen people could get to the place that they did not want Him to govern their lives, but it happened. The word of the Lord also came unto me, saying, Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 12:1,2. Why? What caused them to be in such a sad spiritual state? It was simply because they became rebellious and did not want to see and hear the spiritual things of God. When the prophet was given a message to deliver to the people, they turned a deaf ear to it and refused to take it in. ...when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Isaiah 65:12. So many times, God's people would get out of line. God, in His unfailing mercy, would attempt to check them and show them their error, but they would not have it. The Word and Spirit have always been a reprover and an instructor in righteousness, a guide to holy living, but just as in times past, when one fails to heed them, it will be of no benefit to them. It will consequently leave that person in a deplorable condition. Look at what God said would happen to them: Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name. Isaiah 65: 13-15. The reward for sin and disobedience here in this life is captivity of your soul. The life to come will be utter darkness and despair. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16. Before God ever rejects anyone, He offers deliverance, light, and understanding. Opportunity after opportunity, time after time, God will strive with a person's heart. It is up to that person to make the final decision as to which direction they will choose for eternity. If we, as Christians, followers of Christ, will listen to the voice of Christ and follow its bidding, we can have the blessed assurance that the promises of God are indeed, yea and amen, to each of us. Saints of God, beware of insensibility. A Plea To The Unsaved Sinner friend, how about you? Has the Spirit of God spoken to your heart numerous times and instructed you to leave the ways of sin? Have friends and loved ones beseeched you to be saved, yet you continually reject God's Grace? If this is so, please heed this warning: you are treading on dangerous ground. The God of Heaven tells us in His Word that His Spirit will not always strive with man (or woman). There comes a time when the Spirit of God becomes grieved with a soul that continually rejects His love and mercy. Won't you allow God to speak to your heart today? Will you take heed to His voice and forsake your sin? The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9. However, that scripture is NOT an assurance that all WILL be saved--it is merely reminding us that it is NOT God's Will that men should perish. Do NOT allow the enemy of your soul to cause you to pass up God's invitation to eternal life in Him. Turn even now, let your heart be tender toward His impression, and be saved.