PrintLast time I recorded the first of at least 4 consequences that flow from disobedience - i.e. diminishing sensitivity or spiritual awareness. Today I want to reflect on the second of the four outcomes.
2. Relational Estrangement.
God is still present in our lives but He feels somewhat distant. We know (in our heads) He will never leave us or abandon us. That's His promise, come what may. But as we continue in our disobedience we find that we are not talking to Him much anymore. Prayer becomes less - in both quantity and quality. Talking with God is more a duty, an expectation rather than a healthy expression of the relationship. The relational strain makes it easier not to pray than to try and correct or heal the relationship.
The same is true when it comes to reading the Bible. We may recall that there used to be a time when reading and meditating on the Scriptures was a welcome discipline. But now there is no expectation that "I will hear God's voice". So rather than be a hypocrite by engaging in some kind of pretence, it is easier not to read what we have for so long believed to be God's Word - at least, that's our poor attempt to maintain some kind of integrity.
Initially this sense of estrangement is a cause for concern but even that concern diminishes as time passes. Diminishing concern about the estrangement. Diminishing effort to correct the estrangement. King Saul (in the Old Testament) is a classic example of this relational estrangement. His life began with such promise but, through disobedience, it ended in witchcraft and suicide. There were a couple of instances on that downward journey when it appeared that he was repenting but, alas, not so. 1 Samuel 15 sums up the sorry tale - especially verses 22,23.
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. (1 Sam 15:22-23 NIV)
The third consequence I will explore in my next posting.
