Not Of This World

“For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” Acts 28:27

These were the words of the prophet Isaiah repeated by Paul to the Jews as they continued to deny the Messiah. The original Greek translation for callous is ‘to make fat’. Isaiah spoke of the hearts of those who would not accept the future Messiah. He foretold how there will be those who hearts would not be healthy enough to receive the understanding of Christ.

Wherever there is fat there also accompanies inactivity and overindulging. Most of us have tried diet after diet to lessen our body fat and obtain a more desired body. God is asking the same of us for our spiritual body. Inactivity in sharpening our spiritual vision and tuning our spiritual ears will result in a callous heart. Overindulging in what the world has to offer verses Christ will also result in the inability to see God working, hear what God is asking of us and understanding His timing and purpose.

The early Christians were described in my commentary as follows: “They lived sacrificially for the spread of the gospel. They did not look upon material possessions as their own, but as a stewardship from God. They were not surprised when they ran into persecution. They had been taught to expect it. Instead of retaliating or even vindicating themselves, they committed their cause to God, who judges righteously. Instead of seeking escape from trials, they prayed for boldness to proclaim Christ to all with whom they came in contact. These early Christians lived in separation from the world. They were in it but not of it.” Believer's Bible Commentary, p.1666

I don’t know about you but I know I need to exercise my heart so I can more closely match these early Christians. Hopefully, at the end of my life I will be described with these same words:

“She was in this world but not of it.”