Recently I went out wooding and came across a great slash pile from which to harvest some good wood. Only trouble was it was surrounded by cows, and lots of ‘em were young cows. I waited a little while a few dispersed, then backed my truck toward the woodpile. Still a few hung around, checking me out. I began to throw pieces on my truck sort of ignoring the nearby onlookers, but keeping a watch on them from the corner of my eye. After several loads of wood I noticed one particular Bessie that had kept a watchful eye upon me, all the while mooing; she was 15 or 20 paces away and she began to swipe at the dirt with her leg and moo louder.
Now, just to let you know, I had never had a previous conversation with this particular cow. We had never exchanged emails, and I have never attended the Bovine College of Language Arts. But something very peculiar happened that day, I realized that I could speak “Cow.” She was attempting some sort of trans-species communication and it was working. It was quite exhilarating. But, was it just me? Had I alone been graced with this ability to communicate with bovine? Was I a true cow-whisperer?
The reason I say this is that in no uncertain way did I understand that she desired for me to NOT be in that area. In fact, she implied that she so desired me to be vacant from that area that she was even willing to help relocate me to another area. Needless to say, I acquiesced to her request. I got back in the truck and found a different slash pile from which to harvest.
Upon relocating, I looked back to observe my bovine friend observing me observing her, only to notice that upon the ground beneath her, among the tall grass was a newborn calf. She had been standing watch over her offspring and I had come too close for her comfort. She had suspected that I was going to do something wrong and she sought to dissuade me. Nonetheless, I had correctly understood her thoughts and intentions even though she was limited to only one word (“moo”), and a bit of sign language. From my experience, I suspect that I am fluent in rabid dog, wet cat and spitting cobra as well.
What’s my point?… Even though people may claim not to be able speak the language of God, or that they “cannot hear” God, they can still understand that there is a “right” and “wrong” in the world. There are consequences to not acknowledging the glory or the wrath of God. There are consequences to sin. If people deny there is such a thing as sin, they are not being honest to that which God has revealed; they are rejecting the truth. Sin is a very real part of our fallen nature.
Romans 1:18-20 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
God has made it clear through His creation that He is real, that sin exists, and those who deny it will be brought to account. How much better it is to acknowledge our sinful condition and receive the forgiveness found only in Christ. God does not want people to perish but be reconciled to Him through the Gift of His Son Jesus.
No matter who you are, where you live or what language you speak, God has made it clear to you – He is God and you are not.
