Pretend you and I and Tagalong reached our travel destination at Discernland, California. Excitement runs high with the thrill of discoveries to be made, sourvenirs to find, pleasure to be had, and discernment to be gained. Our first stop at Discernland is the information booth with a sign on the door that reads, “Start your fun with a treasure hunt.” Inside, we gazed at a list of questions nailed to the wall with instructions to select one.
You choose, “What is spiritual descernment?” I pick, “Why do we need spiritual discernment?” Tagalong opts for, “How do we get spiritual discernment?”
The clue for question 1 reads, “Find the tree of knowledge in the middle of a garden.” We searched three different gardens before we found the right tree. We saw the answer attached to a palm branch that read, “Spiritual discernment is a gift given by God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is a decision-making process in which you make a discovery that leads to action.” “Cool,” we say, with a high-five to each other thrilled with our discovery.
Back at the info booth, the clue for question 2 said, “Search for a booth that gives prizes to the one who practices listening well.” We see a door to our right and open it slowly. Immediatley, a recording of a woman’s voice started to play in turbo-charged mode, “YouneedGod’sWordtogrowinwisdomunderstandingandknowledgeofspirtitualtruthbecauselackofdiscernmentcripplestheabilitytojudgerightly. “I couldn’t understand it,” you said. “Me either,” I agreed. Tagalong piped up, “She said, ‘You need God’s Word to grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of spiritual truth because lack of discernment cripples the ability to judge rightly,'” Tagalong finished. “You listen well,” I said, smiling at her,
The clue for question 3 read, “Find a podium with a microphone. You must read the answer taped to the microphone to passersby.” We found the podium at the crosswalk of two well-traveled walkways. You spotted it first, ran to the podium, grabbed the mic and said, “A person first learns how to gain spiritual discernment by talking with God, through personal prayer, fellowship with other believers, and reading His Word.” “Great,” I said. “Let’s try the game on that wall.” The instructions said, “Pick an answer and find the question to go with it.”
You picked this answer: “Basic Bible truths are the elements from which everything else developes, and what is it likened to?” “Okay, Smarty, find the question to that answer,” you say, looking at Tagalong and me. I spotted it first and read, “What is the first principlel of spiritual discernment, and it is likened to…” I searched and found these words, “The ingredients out of which a cake is made. All right. We’re on a roll. Next answer.”
“‘Drifting, like a boat loosed from its mooring.’ Anyone find the question to that one?” you ask. Tagalong saw it after careful study of the wall. “How about, ‘What does lack of spiritual discernment lead to?'”
We decided to head to the amusement area. I grabbed a Treaure Hunt brochure from a rack by the door. On the back were the words, “Lack of spiritual discernment does not mean a person is an idiot or stupid; it means that person lacks spiritual maturity. A lack of spiritual discernment, or a lack of want to obtain spiritual discernment, is a mark of stunted growth. God places a high value on gaining spiritual discernment. Readers of this brochure do not necessarily lack information concerning spiritual discernment; they lack experience in practicing it. Maturity comes from practice.”
“Thank you for coming to Discernland, CA.”