Adjust My Spiritual Reception

I cut the cord long before it became a bragging point for today’s hip crowd. I’ve been a customer of cable television in the past and once had an Internet-based TV provider for a six month trial. Did the benefit justify the expense? I felt that since I had paid for the service I needed to watch something. I would sit, clicker in hand, and surf through scores of channels occasionally pausing for a five minute snack here and there. With so many options I could not stay on one channel too long or I might miss something better twenty channels beyond. One day I wised up, realized I had better options for investing my time, and canceled the service.

Rabbit Ear Antenna

I dug an old set-top rabbit-ear antenna out of the junk box in the attic, tested its performance in several locations, and dialed in reasonably clear access to a few local channels. My budget loved the zero-cost for television.

And then HDTV happened and my rabbit ears returned to the junk box.

UHF Butterfly Antenna

I found a UHF butterfly antenna to replace the rabbit ears. By raising the antenna higher or lower and shifting it left and right the geographically closest HDTV channels became mine for the viewing. I loved the clarity of HDTV and the novelty of sub-channels. My adult daughters still mock my oft–heard comment, “Awesome graphics!” Actors and actresses, news babblers and talk show hosts could no longer hide behind the fuzziness of analog broadcasting. With HDTV their every blemish appeared in glorious color. And the nature scenes popped as though I might reach into the TV and dip my hand in the rivers, lakes and oceans on display.

The HDTV picture is perfect until it isn’t.

Interference

Airplanes arrive and leave RDU, our local airport, on a regular basis, and I’m nine miles from the runway. The approaching roar of a jet means the HDTV signal will be overcome by turbulence and data packets will be lost. The TV displays the dreaded “No Signal” screen as several seconds of video and dialog are missed. This interruption is not a problem for sports since the network usually replays every play a minimum of three times. But missing a one-line comeback from a favorite actor brings extreme disappointment. Rain and wind compound the reception issues. If a storm parks overhead while traffic from RDU queues up for thirty minutes of departures one might as well switch off the TV and read a book.

The Mohu Leaf Antenna

I’ve migrated to a Mohu Leaf Antenna (still using the first model they released with its too-short cable although several other products populate their lineup now). I’ve added an extension cable (RG6 coax) and amplifier and located the antenna feed as far from electrical noise sources as possible. After optimizing the antenna’s location my TV’s channel scan reports forty-seven recognizable channels. That includes all the major networks, PBS, a couple of movie channels, and even a few channels that broadcast oldies. I’m done. No monthly bills, and no yearly increases. No expensive controller boxes to rent or purchase. Nothing to wear out or replace.

Spiritual Receptivity

A. W. Tozer, in his book The Pursuit of God, used a phrase which applies to this discussion—spiritual receptivity. In describing widely known saints, whether Bible characters or Christians of post-biblical times, Tozer wrote, “Something in them was open to heaven, something that urged them Godward.” And these well-known saints cultivated that spiritual awareness until it consumed their lives.  They stood out from the crowd because of their sensitivity to God and His desires.

Tozer loosely defined spiritual receptivity for us:

“Receptivity is not a single thing; rather, it is a compound, a blending of several elements within the soul. It is an affinity for, a bent toward, a sympathetic response to, a desire to have. From this it may be gathered that it can be present in degrees, that we may have little or more, depending upon the individual. It may be increased by exercise or destroyed by neglect. It is not a sovereign and irresistible force which comes upon us as a seizure from above. It is a gift of God, indeed, but one which must be recognized and cultivated as any other gift if we are to realize the purpose for which it was given.”

Tune In

As I enter the retirement years I want my spiritual antenna tuned to receive all of God that He makes available to me. Retirement presents an opportune time to stop, evaluate, and make any needed adjustments.

• Have I learned all that I can about God?
• Do I see more of Him as I read His Word?
• Do I have the Bible down pat and feel comfortable that no new discoveries wait in the spiritual realm?
• Am I 100% certain that my positions on every issue are the (only) correct ones?
• Do I consider myself to be teachable?
• In what ways am I feeding myself spiritually?

I have not found a spiritual maturity service that I might subscribe to with the expectation that someone else will do the work for me. The motivation to tune in must come from within. Here are some tips to get us started.

1. Let’s orient our spiritual antennas toward the strongest signal.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:1-2 NASB

2. Let’s understand that sin affects spiritual reception.

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

Isaiah 59:2 NASB

If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Psalms 66:18 NASB

3. Now let’s amplify that signal intentionally.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Joshua 1:8 NASB

We don’t have time to waste as we wait for the “No Signal” alert to disappear, so let’s make sure we are tuned in spiritually.