Rev. Mark H. Creech
Can you hear the voice of God?
FacebookTwitter
By Rev. Mark H. Creech
January 8, 2022

You may have heard the story about the young priest who was playing golf alone one day when he approached the fifth tee. Between him and the green was a small lake. As he was considering which club he ought to choose, a Heavenly voice spoke: “Use the 7-iron.”

Shocked and startled by this divine intervention, the young priest then pulled out his 7-iron.

“Now put down a new ball,” the voice instructed.

Again, the priest did as he was told.

“Now, take a practice swing,” the voice said.

The priest took a practice swing. After the swing, the voice spoke once more: “Put down an old ball.”

If you’re a golfer, you’ll get the joke. If not, you probably won’t understand it.

Similarly, if your heart is open to God, you can hear him speak. If your spirit is not open, you may hear his voice, but not understand it.

Various Christian scholars have debated whether God hears the prayers of unregenerate individuals. The question seems to be answered in Jonah 1:14, where God listened to the prayers of the pagans on the boat on which Jonah had embarked. God saved them from the treacherous stormy waters in response to their prayers.

What might be said is that God is not obligated to answer the prayers of any person who resists his sovereignty in their lives. Nevertheless, for the advancement of his own purposes, God may listen to and answer the prayers of an unbeliever.

Still, perhaps a question of equal significance is whether an unsaved person can hear God.

One of the most interesting chapters in the Bible is Acts 9, which records the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Saul had been a relentless persecutor of the early church. After being literally confronted by the living Christ on the Damascus road, Saul would ultimately be changed to become the Apostle Paul.

Saul’s conversion experience was dramatic, to say the least. He was authorized with papers from the religious leaders of his day and given an official entourage to pursue Christians and have them arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison. He was zealous in this cause and even played a role in the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. But suddenly, on his journey to Damascus in search of believers there, an exceedingly bright light from heaven enveloped him. Saul fell to the ground and heard the voice of Christ asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul, the Bible says, listened to the Lord and obeyed his instructions with a receptive heart.

The account of what happened to the people who were with Saul that eventful day, some have suggested, is contradictory. Acts 9:7 says the men with Saul were astonished at what happened. They could see the light and heard a voice speaking to Saul, but they couldn’t see the source of the voice. In Acts 22:9, Paul testified before a mob in Jerusalem that he could hear Christ’s voice, but the men with him couldn’t hear it.

There is no error in the biblical story, and the diligent student of God’s Word can see that the seemingly opposing texts are actually complementary. In other words, those who were with Saul heard a sound, a noise; but they couldn’t make out what was being said. They were rendered speechless by something supernatural happening, and they could hear the sound of a voice speaking to Saul, but they couldn’t understand the words spoken. Consequently, they heard, but they didn’t hear.

And such is the case for many today. People are exposed to the teachings of the Bible. Through various means, they hear it. God’s message falls on their ears, but his holy words never enter their hearts. God always deals with the heart. When a person opens up to God, they can hear with clarity the voice of God – then and only then will an individual hear the instruction of God’s voice and receive Christ as Savior – only then will that person walk in the ways of the Lord.

Over the years, I’ve known some remarkable Christian apologists. I’ve watched their debates with some of the most brilliant unbelieving minds in the world. The apologists’ arguments in defense of Christianity are both superior and irrefutable. Yet, most skeptics and atheists who contend with them respond by doubling down on incredibly spurious and illogical contentions. How can such intelligent people be so foolish?

As someone once said, “There is none so blind as he who will not see.” The same could be said of hearing: “There is none so deaf as he who will not hear.”

One day a man said to me, “I would believe, if it could first be shown to me.” I responded, “It will be shown to you, when you first open your heart to God.”

The voice of God is only heard by a receptive heart.

The apostle Paul said of the people in Rome with whom he had shared the Gospel, “For this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart and be converted.” (Acts 28:27).

Can you hear the voice of God? Does God speak to you and direct your life? Do the words of the Bible resonate deeply with you? If not, the problem is not likely that there’s something wrong with your hearing; instead, there’s something wrong with your heart.

© Rev. Mark H. Creech

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

Rev. Mark H. Creech

Rev. Mark H. Creech served as Executive Director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina for twenty-five years. Before leading that ministry, he spent two decades in pastoral service, shepherding five Southern Baptist churches across North Carolina and one Independent Baptist congregation in upstate New York. He now serves as Director of Government Relations for Return America.

A seasoned voice for Christian values in the public square and a registered lobbyist in the North Carolina General Assembly, Rev. Creech is also a respected speaker and writer. His editorials have appeared not only on RenewAmerica.com, The Christian Post, and other online platforms, but also in most major daily newspapers throughout North Carolina.

Whether in the pulpit, the halls of government, or the media, his mission has remained steadfast – to call the Church and the nation to redemption and righteousness.

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Rev. Mark H. Creech: Click here

More by this author

October 1, 2025
Before we pronounce a national divorce, let’s test the power of the Cross


September 30, 2025
From the womb to the train car: Defending life everywhere


September 26, 2025
Not a flash in the pan: The deeper current behind the movement surrounding Charlie Kirk


September 11, 2025
Charlie Kirk: A martyr for faith and freedom


September 6, 2025
Chasing waterfalls: The folly of the Powerball dream


August 30, 2025
Climate fears are robbing our youth of hope


August 23, 2025
Heavenly hope: What President Trump’s words show us about salvation


August 9, 2025
North Carolina should not follow the marijuana legalization trend


August 2, 2025
Recovering a forgotten key to national renewal


July 31, 2025
Prayers answered: North Carolina HB 193 crosses the finish line in victory


More articles

 

Stephen Stone
HAPPY EASTER: A message to all who love our country and want to help save it

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
FLASHBACK to 2020: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Curtis Dahlgren
Why the English capitalize "I," Part 2

Linda Kimball
Cultural Marxism, Multiculturalism, Woke, DEI, Racism, Fascism, Charlie Kirk, the Choice: The Connections

Jerry Newcombe
Is the Constitution 'propaganda?'

Curtis Dahlgren
Why do the English capitalize the word "I"? (a classic)

Pete Riehm
As Americans seek the light, darkness is descending on Europe

Matt C. Abbott
Durbin declines award from Cupich while pope weighs in

Rev. Mark H. Creech
Before we pronounce a national divorce, let’s test the power of the Cross

Tom DeWeese
When logic can’t be found, you know the government is diligently working

Steve A. Stone
No retreat – No surrender – No quarter

Tom DeWeese
The Charlie Kirk affect: A new chance to rebuild the Republic

Rev. Mark H. Creech
From the womb to the train car: Defending life everywhere

Tom DeWeese
When you can’t sell the lie whole, sell it in pieces: They’re back
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites