Coming to Our (Spiritual) Senses

Posted by Karen on Dec 7, 2011 | 0 comments

One of the greatest temptations in this postmodern world is to complicate what was meant by our Creator to be understood simply. God is all about the basics. Since His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8, 9), He has gone out of His way to “bottom-line” things for us. The Scriptures commonly employ physical terms to convey spiritual realities.

Spiritual hearing is referenced numerous times in the Gospels, as well as the Book of Revelation — “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear…”

Spiritual sight is often coupled with spiritual hearing. Paul was commissioned to open the eyes of the Gentiles and “turn them from darkness to light” (Acts 26:18). We even sing about it in the number one hymn of all time, Amazing Grace — “[I] was blind, but now I see.”

Spiritual taste is referenced by David in Psalm 34:8 — “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” In Hebrews 2:9, we read that Jesus suffered death, “so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”

Spiritual touch is indicated frequently, whether it is God connecting with us through His creation, His people, His Spirit or His Word, or us touching Him through humble obedience and worship.

Spiritual smell is most fascinating. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says that God “through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”

We say that we’ve “come to our senses” when we’ve experienced a reality check. Let’s be sure that we also come to our spiritual senses.