In the years of practicing my Christian faith, I’ve observed an interesting occurrence. Severally, I’ve received knowledge of something without anyone telling me. It’s strange, but when you are the recipient of sudden info straight out of the blues, it could be very spooky. How do you explain sudden knowledge of exact details of a matter about which you were ignorant only a moment ago? Strangely, that has happened to me on a few occasions. Exposing my weird side is not the object of this leak. What I need to get across to you is the value of accurate hearing, and we’ll get to it in just a bit.
Contingency Analysis
On Monday, August 20 2018, I woke with two words ringing in my mind, “Contingency Analysis”. Absolutely clueless to its meaning, I was certain I’d never heard that phrase before. But as indicated, this kind of thing happens to me sometimes. I’ve had names, words, Scriptures, etc. pop up in my dreams and in my wakefulness. My usual response is to prod further for meaning to such bits of vague data. My wife suggested I separate the two words and define them individually. Eventually, the phrase found its way to an online search engine revealing a usage in electrical power grid. Contingency analysis refers to experimental testing that evaluates effects of disruptions on electricity to a wide consumer community. Different scenarios are applied and analyzed.
I am not into that kind of profession. The only way that description could make sense in my world is by applying its “If—Then” formula. If this condition is satisfied, this should be the expected result. Well, without going into details, I’ll just assure you that was a premonition into realities that were about to unfold.
Perceptive Spiritual Learners
The Bible isn’t set up like a dictionary or encyclopedia where you pick a word and read corresponding definitions and related info. Much of its pedagogy is ‘caught’ rather than ‘taught’, as when a child learns by observing and imitating as opposed to classroom tutoring. One example that holds great weight in relation to this art of learning is taken from Jesus words to His disciples. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:18 ~KJV)
Note that Jesus didn’t caution His disciples to what they heard, but how. It’s not enough to hear correctly; how you hear matters just as much. For instance, I correctly heard the words “Contingency Analysis”. To apply the Lord’s caution, how should I have heard those words? I could register as a student in a course of electrical power grid, or I could use their specimen model to evaluate contingencies of my own concerns.
The aim is to predict problems and formulate adequate solutions ahead of time. By simulating and analyzing contingency scenarios, power suppliers are able to preempt problems before they happen. That’s why lightening doesn’t often result in power surges, a defective transformer doesn’t result in widespread blackout, etc. Measures are put in place to counteract these situations with minimal inconvenience to consumers.
Ground, Not Seed, Determines Harvest
Jesus sounded the warning in reference to His parable of the sower. The sower’s harvest was directly proportional to the ground in which his seeds fell. Luke chapter eight has the parable and the explanation; we don’t need to repeat it here. What’s crucial for us to grasp is that God’s Word, which is highest quality seed, falls into diverse grounds of human hearts. Within each heart is a mindset whose biases either facilitate of defeat His objective. What God’s Word is able to accomplish in an individual is determined by how s/he receives, or hears, godly counsel.
God’s Word is effectual for any subject. The measure of its efficacy is determined by reception of hearers. For centuries, God’s Word has produced peace, salvation, divine healing, comfort, guidance, etc. for countless multitudes. Paradoxically, the same Word has produced skeptics who ‘see snakes in every lawn, pedophiles in every priest, con artists in every preacher and dens of thieves in every gospel ministry. What you see is what you get. You cannot undermine godly counsel and expect it to produce rich benefits for you any more than you can expect a bountiful harvest from an unkempt garden.
Think about crops. We plant seeds, tend them, and then wait! At the right time, they produce a harvest. Its counterproductive to expose your precious seeds to conditions that hinder your desired harvest. Specific conditions have to be met before seeds can yield their fullest potential. “…The good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)