The Trouble with Seeing

It may be that my eyes are growing older. But these days, I like a good, bright lamp in order to read my book in the evenings. The darkness simply does not help me see!

God realized this about us – not so much that we’d need more light as our eyes aged (though I’m certain he knows this too) but rather that our spiritual vision is often blurred. Our ability to “walk by faith and not by sight” is not always clear. I love His play with words on our vision.

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; ~ Acts 9:17-18

Is it possible that Saul “saw” some very important truths in his blindness?

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. ~ John 9:41

In the hindsight of reading about biblical characters’ lives, it’s easy to point out what they couldn’t “see.” In the muddle of our own lives, it’s harder to admit where our own spiritual vision might need clearing! What then are we to do?

Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law. ~ Psalm 119:18

We begin by realizing spiritual sight is not gained through our own efforts. Rather God is the one who opens our eyes, if only we surrender to Him!

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12

We must realize that perfect vision hasn’t come yet (at least for us!). Thus, it shouldn’t surprise us that we can’t “see” how God will solve a certain problem! Perhaps it is not my job to “see” everything but rather to trust the one who sees all!

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.  ~ 2 Corinthians 5:6-7

We must begin to learn a different way of walking through life.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ~ Matthew 5:8

Finally, the state of my heart directly affects my ability to see God! As Jesus said, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). Perhaps the biggest problem with my spiritual sight… is myself!

Learning to examine our lives, our hearts, our words is a painful process but ultimately a rewarding one. If we take the time to submit ourselves to him, to offer our sinful brokenness (again and again) to him, we will find the words of an old hymn grow true:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

(Helen Lemmel)

May we each seek to “see” God a little clearer today than we have before.

Photo by Bud Helisson on Unsplash