If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. – Henry David Thoreau

We will disagree with Thoreau’s application of this truth, but it remains that, in fact, there is variation in what people hear. It is evident in our natural hearing by the following demonstration:

The high-pitched frequencies, generally audible only to younger ears, have been used by shop owners to keep teens from loitering in front of their stores. That same technology is now being used by teens to avoid parents and teachers being able to detect when students’ phones ring. (Tip to parents: the dog will hear it, learn how he behaves when the teen’s phone rings.) (The younger Randall House staff have been greatly annoyed with these high-pitched tones during my preparation for this post.)

All this brings to mind that spiritual hearing will also vary.

Just as we may be a bit skeptical that there actually is any sound being made by the higher frequencies, the world cannot comprehend spiritual truth. Their ears are “dead” to the sound. No amount of persuasion can cause them to perceive. No amount of effort is able to force them to hear.

We can argue principles, morals, and truth all day, but we may as well try to convince a statue to come in out of the rain. They just don’t get it. They can’t get it because of the spritual darkness and deafness. Only the power of God’s Spirit can bring light to blind eyes and the voice of truth to deaf ears.