Vision is a function that requires more than eyes alone! In order for the eye to do its job there must be light to see and a brain to define what it sees. As light strikes an object, e.g. another person, the light rays are reflected from that person to your eyes. The rays pass through the cornea or clear front window, through the pupil, which is the opening in the colored iris, passed the lens. The lens of the eye bends the light-rays as it passes through and then focuses onto the retina at the back of the eye. The retina then relays these light-rays through the delicate optic nerve which is connected to the brain.
Scripture has a lot to say about the eyes and the importance of having clear vision. Jesus stated: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12)." Then He challenged His followers: "let your light so shine before men." Light reveals and that is the first step to spiritual sight. The blind man of John 9 came to Jesus and received sight. Without Him we walk in darkness. A continual walk in the Light requires that we keep a clear focus on Him. The Christian who patterns his behavior by this world-system is in danger of living in darkness. To a worldly-minded church, Jesus remonstrated: "use salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (Rev.3:18). Unaware of their visual impairment, they portrayed a distorted view of Christ.
In his book The Miracle Of Vision, Arthus Freese states that at birth the visual acuteness of an infant is about 20/700. It improves steadily with growth so that by the age of one it becomes about 20/200, by two it is 20/70 and by the age of three it reaches 20/20. Spiritual growth is a process. Maturing takes time! Peter puts it this way: "grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet.3:18).
There are two visual extremes needing corrective action. Nearsightedness, referred to as myopia, can see near objects clearer than distant ones. The other, referred to as hyperopia, sees better at a distance. In a spiritual sense we must be careful of two extremes: a preoccupation with oneself bordering narcissism; the other, a continual flurry of activities build only on human achievement. Both extremes distort the image of God before the world.
A blind man's world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man's world, by the limits of his knowledge; a perceptive man's world, by the limits of his vision. When Jesus said "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt.5:16), He was getting His followers to reflect authentic Christianity by focusing on Him instead of self.
Vision gives clarity and God-focused lives reveal authentic Christianity. How is your vision?
2 comments:
Great meditation dad.
What a message for our day. Even in the business of "doing God's work" one can be blind. True focus is only possible through the One who is the Light.
Thanks for sharing this Dad.
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