As Evangelical Christians we believe that all Christians are born again. Not everyone remembers the exact time of their spiritual rebirth, but like our bodily birth we know that it happened because we are alive. Similarly, because we are spiritually alive and aware, we know that our spiritual rebirth happened. It’s not as important how or when it happened, as the realization of the fact that it did happen. We know that it happened because we are aware and in love with Jesus Christ. We know it happened because we actively and intentionally spend time in prayer, fellowship, study, and service with Jesus Christ.
Sometimes people imagine that, if they could just hear the voice of God, they would become a Christian or become a more faithful Christian. But Hebrews 3:8 contradicts that idea by saying that it is possible to hear the voice of God and turn away in rebellion. The way that I make sense of that is by understanding that Christ has made Himself available to all humanity by becoming a human being Himself. He manifested Himself in human history, and human history is common to all humanity. It is simply a fact that Jesus Christ lived, died, and lives again. Because that fact is true, Jesus Christ is available to all.
But this does not mean that every individual hears the voice of God. The fact that God is speaking doesn’t mean that every individual is listening. Nor does it mean that every individual will correctly understand what God is saying. It simply means that because Jesus Christ was born, died, and has been resurrected, God’s voice is available. …
We are people who are not naturally self-disciplined. Our attention automatically wanders aimlessly. Our attention follows the path of least resistance. We are naturally and habitually distracted by the world because the world provides a constantly changing and infinitely varying experience. There are so many things in the world that we need to pay attention to that we find it difficult to stay focused on any one thing. And the result is the lack of development of the attention muscle. We find it difficult to pay sustained attention to anything. And this lack of sustained attention results in attention deficit disorder that manifests as hyperactivity.
Everyone suffers from this. Some more, some less. But it’s a universal problem. Attention deficit is a symptom of sin. We can understand this by realizing that faithfulness is a matter of paying attention to God, of remembering God in all things and at all times. As Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Paul deals with this in Romans 7. …
