I hate wearing glasses. They get lost, knocked off, bent, and you can’t wear them while swimming or sleeping. They require care and maintenance. Furthermore, they get fogged up and dirty. It’s surprising how quickly my glasses get smudged and splattered with dirt.
On the bright side, they really do help my vision. Although I’ll never have perfect vision due to a stigmatism, I’m thankful I can read and see the beauty of God’s creation all around me. They are a blessing if I chose to have a positive perspective.
God wants to give us a better vision of who He is. This requires an effort on our part. Reading the Bible, Christian fellowship, and worship all deepen our knowledge of God. These practices keep our eyes focused on eternal things. If we aren’t vigilant, our spiritual glasses can easily get fogged up with false doctrine or smudged by politically correct worldly views.
God has given us an idea of what heaven will be like. We need only to observe the beauty found here on earth. Incredible mountains are everywhere. Lakes, rivers, and waterfalls take our breath away, and the vastness of outer space leaves us in awe. We see only a fuzzy negative of what awaits us in heaven.
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” 1 Corinthians 13:9-10
We need a baptism of clear seeing. We desperately need seers who can see through the mist–Christian leaders with prophetic vision. Unless they come soon it will be too late for this generation. And if they do come we will no doubt crucify a few of them in the name of our worldly orthodoxy. ~ A.W. Tozer
In this dark generation, there will be many false teachers. Like lambs among wolves, we need our Lord, the Good Shepherd, to direct our steps and guide us to safe pastures. With blurry spectacles, we may think we’ve arrived in green pastures. This is a devilish scheme because the pastures are indeed green but filled with poisonous traps. We don’t see those traps when our lenses are disheveled and grimy. If we are not alert and serious about our walk with God, we will wander from the truth.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16 (NIV)
Spiritual blindness is a serious matter. It grows out of an attitude of pride. It condones sin by saying some compromise is necessary if we want to fit in with our community and neighbors. As Christians, we are not supposed to fit in. When one compromise is offered up another one will come to distract and tempt us. This is what happened to King Solomon. His royal sanction to the worship of pagan deities set a precedent that was followed by most of Judah’s kings after him. When we slacken our resolve to keep all of God’s commands, even those we might deem as less important, we will gradually lose our God-given understanding of His way to eternal life.
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
James 4:17 (NKJV)
Our spiritual discernment fades if we are not abiding in Christ. Conversing with God throughout the day and inviting Him into every moment will help to keep our vision clear. Spiritual blindness doesn’t happen at the speed of light. No, it’s like the story of a frog in a pan of lukewarm water. Gradually, the heat is turned up and the poor animal is boiled alive.
To be a light in darkness means that others will poke us with sticks. So, expect some discomfort. The good news is that while they stoke our fire, we’ll become bigger, brighter, and hotter.
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart: naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
*Mary Byrne and Elenor Hull
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs
Categories: INSPIRATIONAL DEVOTIONS, THOUGHT FOR TODAY
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