HEBREWS 12:1-2 -Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
THEME OF THE DAY. SPIRITUAL EYESIGHT. The importance of proper eyesight cannot be overstated. With it, we see our way through life avoiding dangers, taking us places we want to go, and leading us through the various mazes in our daily routines. Without it, we need help in the form of guides to guide and protect us. Left alone in our blindness, we would fall into dangerous situations and places potentially bringing upon ourselves great harm.
In the spiritual realm, spiritual eyesight cannot be overstated either. And this applies to unbelievers and believers. For unbelievers, it is a matter of not having spiritual life or being in a state of spiritual death. The Bible describes a person outside of Christ and His salvation as being “spiritually blind” – In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus would identify religious leaders as those “blind leading the blind” – “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath’” (Matthew 23:16). But spiritual eyesight is important for believers too. We are not immune to deception, especially self-deception (James 1:22). And we are commanded to “not lean on our own understanding” (Proverb 3:5).
As believers, with our eyes opened to spiritual realities, there are two places we are to put our gaze if we want to live a life pleasing to the Lord. The first place is on God’s Word – “Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments” (Psalm 119:5-6). Friends, God has given us His Word for two reasons; to know Him and to know how to live in the world. And when it comes to what we place our spiritual eyes upon, there are only two places – the world or the Word. It is imperative we learn to not only look at the Word of God, but become fixed, or attached to it in our mind’s eyes. If not, the world will blind us spiritually, not to spiritual death, but to spiritual indifference. When a Christian’s spiritual eyesight is gazing more to the world than the Word, the heart is pulled away from Jesus or we may say, “Our spiritual eyes are blinded to the soul-satisfying beauty of His Person”.
The other place Christians are to direct their spiritual eyesight is in today’s scriptures – looking to Jesus. Obviously, this isn’t a literal experience. Someday it will be, but for now it is being enabled to “see” and fix ourselves on Him by the means He has given us – prayer, the Word, and His church. And here is where the success and enjoyment of our Christian life will rise or fall; our ability to be mentally disciplined and control our emotions to fix our being on Christ. This demands commitment to seek Him in prayer, the Word, and through His church; a commitment that simply cries, “Lord, I want to see You, know You, experience You, in the glory and wonder of who You are revealed through Your Word. Praying like this will help keep the “dust” of the world out of our spiritual eyes and enable us to clearly “Behold the glory of the Lord” and be transformed into that glorious sight (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So, in seeking a life pleasing to the Lord, strive to keep our spiritual eyesight clear. Without a clear vision of God’s Word and Son, the world will blind us to these wonderful spiritual realities.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to keep my eyes ever on Your Word and Son.”
QUOTE: “If we are going to live pleasing to the Lord, we must keep our eyes on the Lord.”