An Unobstructed View
My grandmother recently had cataract surgery on her right eye. She was somewhat apprehensive about the operation, but knew the end result was well worth the risk. Before the cataract was removed, her vision was poor. Now, however, her vision is almost a perfect 20/20. Once the cataract was removed from my grandmother’s eye, she said the light became much brighter than before. And even the next day, she noticed the colors around her were more vibrant.
As it is with cataract surgery, sometimes all it takes is a minor adjustment for us to regain clear vision.
Pastor Ed Young, Jr. said, “So often the small tweaks take us to giant peaks.”
If we want to see things clearer, we have to remove the stuff that clouds our vision or we will continue to live with a distorted view.
In , Jesus tells us that we need to keep our minds eye open so we don’t live in the dark.
“No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.” (MSG)
By choosing to fill my mind with the Word of God and sound biblical teaching, it helps keep my spirit and entire countenance illuminated. In other words, I am constantly soaking up the instruction I receive and allowing the knowledge to enlarge my vision.
says,
“Hear, My sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation [of spiritual matters]." (AMPC)
The Apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians resonates with me today as I believe it did with those who read his words soon after they were written.
Paul writes,
“I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust him — endless energy, boundless strength!” (MSG)
When we seek the Holy Spirit’s counsel, our plans line up in accordance with what God desires for us to do. Otherwise, things can turn out to be a greater struggle than a delight.
Jesus said to His disciples,
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.” (NLT)
It is God Himself who longs for our spirit and His to be united together as one. Only then will we have the full capacity to see with unobstructed vision.
Copyright © Byron Bohnert, used with permission.
