How many of us are nearsighted? How many farsighted? How many with astigmatism? Even if you were born with 20/20 vision, how long before you are plagued with cataracts or presbyopia?
... the wellspring of life is with you.By means of your light we see light. (Ps 36:9)
If we elevate the discussion to spiritual metaphor, we might say that ALL of us have every kind of vision problem at some point or another. In the physical realm, vision problems are caused by misshapen, injured, or diseased eyeballs or lenses resulting a distortion of light, or in worst cases - as with retinal detachment - a complete loss of vision. How may we apply the analogy?
All of us are born with distorted spiritual vision due to the Fall in the Garden. A "mutation" was introduced into humankind's spiritual DNA through a reckless choice by our first parents (1 Cor 15:21-22). In an ironic twist, their spiritual eyes were both opened and darkened at the same time (Gn 3:4,7). Even those biblicists who do not hold to the doctrine of Original Sin will readily confess that all of us victimize ourselves in the same way by our own spiritual self-mutilation through willful rebellion against God's good will (Is 53:6; Rm 3:10-12). The result is that we all have distorted spiritual vision. When the light of truth comes to our damaged spiritual eyes our vision is distorted, and the condition will either be treated or will worsen. So, ALL of us need correction, for neglecting this treatment will result in total and irreversible blindness.
The physical maladies serve well as pointers to the spiritual ones. All of us have spiritual astigmatism in that we cannot see straight or focus properly without correction (Rm 1:21-22, 28; 3:11-12; 1 Cor 2:14). We may also say that we all have cataracts, for our spiritual eyes are veiled to the word of God, just as was the case with the unbelieving Jews of Paul's day (2 Cor 3:13-16). This condition only worsens without treatment! What's more, we have an enemy trying to warp even what we do see (2 Cor 4:4). We may at times experience near-sightedness when we get too focused on the things of this life (Mt 6:25-34; Jas 4:13-5:6; 1 Jn 2:15). (How many prayers are focused on immediate comforts rather than on the longview of God's plan to redeem and reconcile?) On the other hand, we may - especially as we get older, appropriately enough! - experience far-sightedness when we focus so much on our final, glorious state that we forget to be on mission now as ambassadors for the gospel (Mt 28:18-20; Lk 24:46-49; cf. Ac 1:8; see Paul's positive example in Php 1:21-26). (Do you talk about the rapture more than the gospel?) We can also have vision problems due to our own sin, like a splinter in the eye that blocks vision more like a beam (Mt 7:3-5).
We know for certain that the light of God has come to everyone through his creation (Rm 1:20), his word (Ps 119:105,130), and through his Son (Jn 1:4-5,9; Heb 1:1-3; cf.2:1). But how can we find help with all these vision problems? God has given us the lens of his word, but we need help even to understand and apply that lens correctly. For this reason, he has given us his Spirit, our great Optometrist. Many will try the corrective lenses of God's word for a while, like glasses or contacts (the word DOES have to make contact with the heart!). Many will treat the lens as disposable and conclude they see just fine without them. If they continue to ignore the Optometrist and reject treatment they will go blind, forever stumbling in the dark - a spiritual case of retinal detachment (Rm 1:24,28; cf. Is 5:20; 1 Pt 2:7-8). Praise God, others of us are won over to trust the doctor. His word is surgical and he is the surgeon, helping us forever to see what is what (Heb 4:12). God has also given us his Body, our spiritual community of brothers and sisters who all want to work together to understand and live by the light (Rm 15:1-6; Eph 4:1-16; Jude 20-23).
For all these reasons, if we are motivated to care of our physical eyes, we must be even MORE careful to take care of our spiritual eyes, as Jesus said...
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness! (Mt 6:22-23)
As we rely on our tools for spiritual health so that we no longer stumble around in the dark, we are reminded that all glory goes to God:
Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
