Do You Hear What I Hear?

“Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.” (Joh 12:28-29 AV)

There were three things heard.  There were those who heard thunder.  There were those who heard the voice of an angel.  Then there was Jesus Christ, who heard what it was.  It was the voice of the Father.  Some may hear thunder, others may hear the voice of an angel, but it doesn’t change what it was.  It was the voice of God.  We also do not know why some only heard thunder while others heard an angel.  We can only surmise.  Perhaps it was a faith issue.  Perhaps those who expected to hear one thing is exactly what they did hear.  Jesus warns us to take heed how we hear.  Not just what we hear, but how we hear.  The sound coming from heaven was not three distinct sounds.  It was all the same sound.  It was the voice of God.  Yet, three sounds were heard.  The voice of God; a voice of an angel; or thunder.  What ever the cause, we know those that did not hear the voice of God did not take heed how they hear.

The word of God is the same.  There are those who read the words as mere words.  A book compiled to record the history of people who are called the chosen of God.  Some see it as allegory.  A bit of literalness is attributed, but the see the word of God as nothing more than noise.  Noise different from the quiet, but noise nonetheless.  There are others who see the word of God as it is, the word of God.  But they fail to see the supernatural quality of it.  Those these, the word of God is an accurate account of the events and doctrines of history.  However, it is not seen as the supernatural voice of God.  Then there are those who see the word of God as it actually is.  It is the very voice of God.  It is perfect and without error.  Just like the very voice of God.  When reading the words within its pages, they are more than words.  When reading the word of God, a person with faith in the word of God will realize he is listening to the Holy Spirit of God minister to his heart the will of God in every and all aspects of life.  The word of God becomes personal.  When there is illumination, he realizes the LORD is speaking directly to him.  Jesus was able to hear the voice of His Father because He accepted for what it was.  Regardless of what it may appear to be, it is the voice of God.  That is why Jesus heard the voice of His Father.

I pity those who do not believe the word of God is the very voice of God with their whole heart.  I pity those who have no faith in the voice of God.  They are empty, guideless, and without life.  I pity those who see the word of God as a book that may, at one time in history, been perfect, but now is subject to the flawed efforts of man to translate and preserve it.  The word of God is a guide.  But not a reliable as their own opinion or education.  I pity them because God is not as real as He could be.  They see the voice of God as a general thing which applies to all equally in all situations.  There is little specific illumination to the individual.  Faith may be present, but it is not as deep as it could be.  But praise be to God for those who accept the word of God as it is.  The living voice of God speaking to the heart of the believer in a way that is personal and applicable to the circumstances at hand.  These saints have a deep faith.  To them, the word of God cannot be equated to anything else.  It is far more than a text book.  It is the very voice of God speaking to them in a real, deep, and personal way!  Take heed how you hear.