Men, above all the creatures of the earth, are the most intelligent. Animals have a limited intelligence and are able to understand and communicate with each other and to a certain degree with man. Yet out of all creatures on earth only man can intelligently communicate with his Maker. Before the great transgression in the Garden of Eden and man’s fatal fall from his state of perfection, he had perfect communication with Jehovah. From that time he has had either no ability, or limited ability. Any ability he may have to receive communication from God can only be ascribed to God. In the Gospel according to Luke where we have two disciples returning from Jerusalem to Emmaus after the crucifixion of Christ we see this principle applied, “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45). This is a most blessed opening, and we might ask WHO OPENED IT? Christ! He not only has the key to scriptural knowledge He is the Key. He that has the key of David puts in His hand by the hole of the door of our hearts as did the Shepherd with the Shulamite maiden in the Song of Solomon 5:4, and opens our understanding to give the knowledge of the gospel. These two men in Luke 24 are said to be disciples; I take that to mean regenerated, converted men. If, as we learn from their experience, believers must have the key turned to unlock our understanding that we may receive truth, why are we so shocked when unbelievers understand not our speech? Is it not because they are dead in their senses that they are no more than the lower creatures that they do not hear? Men are shut up to the voice of Him who alone can bring them from death to life. In John 5:24-29, two references are made concerning the dead, one is to the physical, the other to the spiritual. Both are equally dependent on Christ for life. “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat (both physical and spiritual) in due season” Psalm 145:15. Men who think themselves capable of turning the unconverted from sin to righteousness are mistaken. Those who do not cast all their hope of the salvation of sinners upon Him who is their hope must have never have that hope themselves. Those who have deceived themselves with notions that poor, lost spiritually dead sinners may be won to Christ by superficial propositions have never been won to Christ themselves. In that Great Day of our Lord, when He shall judge the quick and the dead, they will be made ashamed of, sick of, and sorry for all their thoughts, words, works, knowledge and professions that have not stood in the power, teaching and wisdom of Christ alone.
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