Losing Touch

^"18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." Ephesians 4:18-19

Have you ever imagined yourself losing your sense of touch, of feeling? Sadly so, millions of people become victims of medical conditions that damage the nerves. This is called peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is associated with varying combinations of sensory changes. Oftentimes, a loss of sensitivity. Those who are affected sometimes become insensitive to any type of feeling- sometimes including pain. Without any sense of touch or pain, they develop all sorts of complications including bed sores and sometimes even losing some extremities.

I have seen this happen all too many times working in the medical field. The sad condition people go through who have this type of illness. But what I didn't know and have only realized until recently, I suffer from it as well.

I suffer from spiritual insensitivity. I become impervious to guilt everytime I commit a sin. Every time I made excuses for my own behaviour, the more I separate myself from God- I turn my heart to stone. Trapped in sin, I only crave for more, making excuses along the way.

In the verse above, Paul was urging the people to "no longer live as Gentiles do"(Ephesians 4:17). Now I am no Bible expert but from my understanding, Gentiles were associated with pagan cultures at that time. Paul continues on saying that the Gentiles have separated their life from God and in ignorance due to the hardening of their hearts, they have indulged themselves in impurity.

As I read the beginning of this passage in Ephesians, I realize, in a way, that I have lived as the Gentiles did- hardening my heart to God. I have lost my sensitivity to sin.

But as I read on, Paul says that:

" ²⁰You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. ²¹Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus." Ephesians 4:20-21

Yes, I do know Christ. And at one important point of my life, I did accept His grace, His love. So what is keeping me from living a life worthy of His grace? You all know this: SIN

If we have heard the good news of Jesus Christ, then according to Paul, we are called to:

"..put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

We should break free from the bondage of our old selves- from sin. We could start by opening our hearts to God in confession. For with God, forgiveness is always available.

"⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

Friends, physical insensitivity can sometimes ultimately lead to losing an arm, feet or both- Albeit no pain but at the expense of your life. Spiritual and moral insensitivity enables one to live a life of guiltless indulgences- but at the expense of your soul.