Consequences of the Fall
The Fall has resulted in humanity's deafness to God's loving utterances and blindness to their true state, due to a thick skin of worldly love and opinion.
W.R. Inge delves into the concept of mankind being deaf and blind to the loving utterances of the eternal Word since the first man listened to the enemy. He explores how humanity's ears and eyes have been obstructed, preventing them from understanding the truth and their inner selves. Inge reflects on the shame of reason being blinded and the thick skin of worldly love and opinions that cover man, making him unable to see the light or hear God's voice, leading to spiritual deafness and blindness.
Text
FROM the time when the first man gave a ready ear to the words of the enemy, mankind have been deaf, so that none of us can hear or understand the loving utterances of the eternal Word. Something has happened to the ears of man, which has stopped up his ears, so that he cannot hear the loving Word; and he has also been so blinded, that he has become stupid, and does not know himself. If he wished to speak of his own inner life, he could not do it; he knows not where he is, nor what is his state. (91)
How can it be that the noble reason, the inner eye, is so blinded that it cannot see the true light?
This great shame has come about, because a thick coarse skin and a thick fur has been drawn over him, even the love and the opinion of the creatures, whether it be the man himself or something that belongs to him; hence man has become blind and deaf, in whatever position he may be, worldly or spiritual. Yes, that is his guilt, that many a thick skin is drawn over him, as thick as an ox's forehead, and it has so covered up his inner man, that neither God nor himself can get inside; it has grown into him. (92)
Sermon Outline
- The Consequences of the Fall
- The Cause of Deafness and Blindness
- The drawing of a thick skin of worldly love and opinion
- The resulting inability to see and hear God's truth
Key Quotes
“Something has happened to the ears of man, which has stopped up his ears, so that he cannot hear the loving Word;” — W.R. Inge
Application Points
- Recognize the thick skin of worldly love and opinion that has been drawn over you and take steps to remove it.
- Seek to understand your true state and the state of your inner man.
- Make an effort to hear and see God's truth, despite the obstacles that may be in your way.