During a recent appearance on CNN's Larry King Live, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura remarked that "God has never talks to me." He made this remark after bringing up the fact that President Bush said he talked to "a higher authority" because deciding to go to war in Iraq. Why does God talk to some people but not others? Does He discriminate? Is He a respecter of persons? I can assure you that the answer to both of the preceding questions is no. I don't know about Jesse Ventura's case, but there are three good reasons why God doesn't talk to some people.
First, if one is not open to the idea of communicating with God, it will never happen. It's interesting that people will complain that God never talks to them when they never open the door of communication with Him. Let's suppose you had this casual acquaintance that you would like to develop a friendship with. And let's suppose that person wants to get to know you a lot better as well. However, you never visit this person, call him, email him, or send him a letter. When he comes to your door, you hide in your house and refuse to let him in. When he calls, you don't answer the phone and never respond to the messages he leaves on your answering machine. When he sends you an email or a letter, you don't reply. Then you complain that this person never talks to you? It's the same way with God. He will not force Himself into a relationship with you. You must open the door when He knocks. You must answer his calls. God always makes the first move, but it's up to you to respond. He always awaits your response to initiate a conversation. He is not going to start talking to you right out of the blue.
Second, even if one were open to the idea of conversing with God, he or she must be spiritually sensitive enough to recognize His call. God doesn't speak in an audible voice, although he apparently did with his Old Testament prophets. After Jesus ascended back to heaven, God began communicating with people in the form of His Holy Spirit, Whom He sent to the earth at that time. People who are too worldly or carnal are unable to recognize the call of God through his Holy Spirit. We must be tuned in if we want to listen. For some people, trying to hear God is like trying to hear the broadcast of one station while having their radio tuned to another. It just doesn't work that way. One must be spiritually-minded to hear spiritual calls. People must get their eyes off the earthly and onto the spiritual and take their focus off the visible and onto the invisible long enough to have a conversation with God.
Third, one must have the right attitude to communicate with God. A haughty or prideful spirit won't cut it with God. One must approach Him with a sense of humility. One must understand his or her position in the universe, compared to that of Almighty God. God doesn't speak to people who are arrogant or those who think too highly of themselves. In addition, one cannot have an unrepentant attitude toward sin and have a relationship with God. God won't accept excuses like "my lifestyle is not so bad" or "I'm more moral than most people." That won't work. God doesn't expect anyone to be perfect or sinless. He knows we are all fallen human beings. However, one must come before God with an acknowledgement of his or her sin, a spirit of penitence, and a willingness to accept God's forgiveness based on His Son's sacrificial death and resurrection. People cannot justify themselves to God. They can only be justified though the blood of Jesus Christ. Anyone who thinks he or she is good enough or righteous enough to approach God will never hear from Him.
To sum things up, one must be open to communicating with God, be sensitive to God's call, and have the right attitude. If any of those items are lacking, one should never expect to have God talk to them.
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