SENSES

                                                                            Senses

When someone comes to their senses, they have had a change of mind about something that was wrong or foolish. The Prodigal Son parable illustrates this where it says of him, ‘But when he came to himself…’ Luke 15:17a. He had blown his inheritance in a debauched lifestyle that would put many profligate rock stars to shame. But he came to his senses, and returned to his father in the deepest of humility, asking to be reinstated to his household, not as a son but a servant.

The Bible says that, because we are fallen in Adam, we need to come to our senses and return to our heavenly Father. It puts it like this, ‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect’ Romans 12:2. The Prodigal was conforming to this world when he was living away from his father’s house. Had he not come to his senses, he would have passed away with it: ‘And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever’ 1 John 2:17.

What is wrong with us that we each need to come to our senses regarding our relationship with God? It’s because we each have a fallen nature, what theologians refer to as original sin. Though related to what Adam did in the garden, original sin means that you and I are not operating ourselves according to the Manufacturer’s instructions. We are conforming to this world and not to the perfect will of God. What happened to us? ‘Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned’ Romans 5:12.

Adam lost his mind by going against the perfect will of God and siding with Satan against Him. Thus, because he wanted to live his life his own way not God’s, he blew his promised inheritance, and instead became a debauched profligate. Thus, he, and all after him, dine with demons. But God in His grace wasn’t done with Adam and Eve. He came and rescued them, promising them a Saviour from their own seed, One who would come to crush the serpent’s head. And He clothed them. (Gen. 3:15; 21). Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden to live among what their disobedience to God had brought mankind, sin, misery, and death. Enter the Seed of the Woman.

‘Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid’ Mark 5:15. Adam made a deal with the Devil. And here was a man commonly known as the Demoniac having to deal with the results of that. He’s possessed by a legion of the Devil’s host. The Demoniac had been living among mankind’s sin, misery, and death. ‘He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain’ Mark 5:3. But he came to his senses when Jesus rescued him, even becoming a preacher of the gospel! ‘As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.’ Mark 5:18-20.

Are you sitting and clothed and in your right mind as you read this? Or do you still have to come to your senses? Call on Jesus today!