Being able to see clearly is a wonderful thing.
I watched a video the other day of a colour-blind boy who was given special glasses that enabled him to see colours like the rest of us do. It was incredible to watch his amazement. He thought he was seeing okay before he put them on – even though he knew that people could see things he couldn’t – but having a life-long sight issue that didn’t disable him much, didn’t seem to be anything to worry about. When he put the glasses on, the explosion of colours that he couldn’t distinguish before opened up before him in their incredible array, and he was in tears of amazement over it. Quite the experience!
Because we grow up in a world of sin it is impossible for us to see sin and righteousness clearly. We are told this over and over in scripture:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer. 17:9
“Buy of Me … eye-salve so you can see.” Rev. 3:18
“Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:5
“I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezek. 11:19
We dare not trust our own perception of ourselves and our condition, or others. It is faulty, at best.
We also don’t clearly see what true righteousness is. It is easy to read the Gospels and put our attitudes and vocal tones on Jesus and come away believing we’re okay when we’re not.
It is true that Jesus cleansed the temple and rebuked the Pharisees, but what came through more strongly – love or condemnation? Remember that He didn’t come into the world to condemn it. He was superior in righteousness, but His love for sinners is what had to come through, because it is the kindness (love) of God that leads us to truly repent, and that was Jesus’ goal in those things.
Our goal, as Christians in these end times, is to be like Jesus. We can’t make ourselves like Him, all we can do is allow Him to take out our stony hearts and put that heart of flesh in us; to let Him put the mind of Jesus in us; to let Him put the eye-salve in so we can see, clearly. As we seek to truly know Him, He reveals Himself to us, and changes us. Jesus is 20/20 vision.
May seeking Him be our goal this year. I’m praying for you.
By Erna McCann
- The Gift - December 23, 2021
- The Perspective of God’s Will - September 29, 2021
- The Narrow Path - May 9, 2021
