Voices

The world we live in today is quite peculiar. It’s difficult to imagine a time when we had as many voices as we have in today’s world. We are inundated with many and diverse platforms, from podcasts covering all kinds of topics to short videos and clips, to the unending scrolls of social media platforms – I could go on and on.

All these, to what end?

A voice, in simple terms, is a means of articulated disclosure. Whenever a voice is in play, there is an attempt to either introduce or reinforce certain information.

We live in a world of opinions, where truth is placed under constant pressure and attempts are made to relegate it to the background. The effects of civilization and advances in technology are that now most people have access to express themselves through these means, and more people can be reached through these means.

But what could be the implications?

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

1 Corinthians 14:10 (KJV)

The Apostle Paul provides us with an important piece of disclosure here. He tells us that there are so many voices in the world, and critically every one of them has significance. Every voice has a significance.

The disclosure is not that everyone who speaks is a voice. Rather, we live in a world composed of voices, and the course of the world is influenced by the message and distinction of these voices.

Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

1 Corinthians 14:11 (KJV)

There are only two sources of sound in the earth. It’s the voice of God and the voice of the serpent. Every other voice is secondary. They simply express and channel those primary sources.

And here is the challenge, when you hear a voice, can you discern the meaning? Can you discern the [primary] source being channeled?

Something else to note is that one of the ways of the serpent is to use a multiplicity of voices to drown out and distract people from the voice of God. So He makes noise. He gets rowdy and loud. He contends against the truth in the hearts of men and in the ears of men. His goal is to cause us to believe a lie, to cause us to shift ground and exchange the truth of God for the opinions of men.

Which voice is prominent in your heart? Which voice have you submitted to? Are you still able to discern the voice of God?

We must sustain the fortitude to sift through all that we hear and reject all that is not consistent with the voice of truth and the word of God. We must be careful about that which we allow into our ‘ear-space’ and heart.

We must contend earnestly, and not casually expose ourselves to voices that will undermine the authority of God in our lives. No voice is too small. No voice is without significance. Pay attention to the right voice(s).