As we listen to this beautiful illustration about how God is there even if we can’t see Him. And how reasonable believing in Jesus is when seen in the light of this analogy that expresses so well the reality of a Creator when confronted continually by His creation that surrounds us. I think it is prudent for us to also consider the unbeliever’s side we hear in this analogy.
The one about whom Pater wrote saying, “3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
The unbeliever is a person who when faced with the facts that should point us toward belief in a Creator. And if we are honest with ourselves all the facts do just that. One who obviously loves us and has shown He does by all that He provided in creation for our natural lives. Chose instead to not even consider the possibilities of the deeper implications of his own existence.
In the story responding to each of his twin’s proofs that there must be something more after “delivery”, a clear analogy for life after death, with rejection of the obvious. Because something must have been providing the needs and surroundings for their existence in their current place of residence.
But, just like everyone that has gone through the first birth refuses to see the inevitable truth of God. Choosing only go so far as their natural senses will take them. So too did this child in the womb who used his fleshly mind, his carnality, to reject the logic his companion could not and would not ignore.
So what we are shown here is also the fact that there will always be scoffers who not only deny the existence of God. But, who also reject the idea that there is something more after this life. Depending solely on the senses that God gave them, their carnality, to stop at what this world has to offer. Rejecting even the notion that there may be something and someone more.
I use the word carnality because it is that which makes only the natural man tick. And has no ability to see the spiritual things of God. It is what Paul was describing when he said, “5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Paul was not saying carnality is evil. He was saying it can not perceive the things of the Spirit of God. Just as he said in 1Cor.2:14. Because he didn’t teach Gnosticism as the sin nature doctrine does.
He taught that God has given us the same flesh that Adam was given when God made him. 1Cor.15:45-48. And that this flesh was not given to us for the purpose of relating to God. But, only to relate to the natural world around us.
It was only when Jesus came that it would be made possible for men to become the spiritual beings through a second birth, being born again, that we would become equipped to perceive spiritual things. And to have a personal and loving relationship with God.
So it is that the flesh and its carnal mindedness, which is simply the fact that it can only relate to what has been made, can not therefore perceive the things of the spirit.
And just as the one child in the story told the other that if we are quiet we can hear “mom” speak. And the other child had heard it too. So too will people deny the call of the Holy Spirit for them to trust in Him when confronted with the gospel. Even though they hear His voice clearly when we share the true gospel with them. Because they allow their carnal mind to rule them.
And if as those who have believed original sin and sin nature we share a different gospel, they may hear what we are saying. But, they will not be hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.
It will instead be a perversion of His voice. One that keeps them from hearing the truth that can show them that it is true that there is something more. Not only after this life. But, also in this life we have now.
The great thing about this story too is that the child who believed in “mom”, and that one day there would be no more need for the “umbilical cord”. Heard the true gospel about the Biblical Jesus, the Biblical God, and the Biblical atonement before “delivery”. And believed it.
But, if as the child who would not believe we wait too long and “delivery” happens before we believe. Our existence after “delivery” will be very different than if we had believed. Instead of an eternity in love, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. It will be an eternity of darkness and separation from God and pain filled gnashing of teeth.
Like the child who did not believe in life after “delivery”, those who will not believe the gospel have only the lake of fire to look forward to. Because no matter what they believe the truth is still the truth. And the choice of what to believe or who to believe in is ours alone to make.
No one goes to heaven who didn’t choose to go there. And no one goes to hell who didn’t choose to go there. It is our choice that determines where we spend eternity. A free will choice that God has made sure is unencumbered by anything.
Whether it is because of a simple rejection of there being something more than this life. Or a knowing rejection of the God that made him and all that has been made. Turning instead to idols for power or fame or fortune. Or whatever.
But, if you believe there is something more than this life after we leave this existence, God says that to be a part of His kingdom we must confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in our heart that Jesus has raised from the dead.
Because it is the fruit of our words that justifies or condemns us for salvation. And it is our belief in Jesus’ resurrection that is the righteousness of a relationship with Him.
So whatever you do don’t be like the child in the story who denied life after delivery. Be like the child who believed there must be. Do this by choosing to trust in Jesus. Because when you do you will be born of the Spirit of God. Having a spirit created in you that never existed before that makes you His child.
Because those who have been born from the womb are not children of God. Only those who have been born of the Spirit of God are His children. And only children inherit their parent’s possessions. And in this case our Father’s kingdom. The kingdom the Bible calls heaven.
Trust in Jesus and be born again and you will have eternal life now. Do this and you will have immortality at the resurrection. Do this and the birthright God provided for all men through Jesus’ sacrifice will be yours. Do this… and I will see you there or in the air!
