John 9:25 (NIV) He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or
not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
On May 3, a deer with its head
caught in the globe from a lighting fixture was found in the woods in
Centereach, N.Y. It was a deer caught not in the headlights, but in the...
light globe. Centereach is a Long Island community about 45 miles east of New
York City. Officials think the deer had been struggling with the opaque globe –
which completely covered its head – for a day or two. The globe did not or
would not break. I’m not sure if it was made out of a kind of unbreakable glass
or perhaps plastic. The news story does not say. In either case, the deer’s
head was trapped inside, leaving it unable to see anything but the inside of
the globe. A first attempt by Officer Jeff Hull to help the animal failed. When
it slipped out of his hands, the deer ran off. On his second approach Officer
Hull tossed his coat over the light globe. When it pulled backwards in fear it
must have moved at just the right angle and the globe came free. And, as they
say, they all lived happily ever after.
Here is a link to the images from the New York State
Department of Conservation: https://www.yahoo.com/news/
The blind man Jesus heals in John
chapter 9 had never seen. His life had been lived without light and highly
dependent upon others. The prevailing attitude was that his sin (or someone’s
sin) was the cause of his problem. Jesus said that it was there in his life so
that God’s work could be displayed. Jesus healed him in love and changed his
life. He delivered him from the darkness physically while also delivering him
from spiritual darkness. Later in the chapter Jesus calls the formerly blind
man to believe on Him. His spiritual eyes need to be opened, for he asks Jesus
who the Son of Man was. Jesus responds by
saying, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is
the one speaking with you." Then John tells us that the man
believed and worshipped Jesus.
God knows our need. He knows our predicament of
being caught in unbelief and sin. He knows we are not capable of getting
ourselves out of our own predicament. Sin has a blinding effect on people. He
knows our sight is limited in the small globe of the world around us. The more
rooted we are in seeing the world through unbelief and sin, the less hope we
have of extricating ourselves from it. We think we can handle it because we actually
believe we are seeing so well. Yet we are not much better off than a deer with
its head caught in a globe. Our condition is desperate and we need a Savior to
uncover and open our eyes. We need His help to take away our spiritual
blindness so that we may see Him as He is. Jesus is more than able to do this.
When we cry out to Him and trust Him His power and grace goes to work. This is
true both as we are helped to come to know Him initially and He rescues us from
our sin and self… as well as on a day to day basis. His grace is given to us
daily that we might see and walk in His path for us. Our enemy will seek to
cover our eyes and make us stumble. But the grace of Christ will not let him.
Jesus is both our Savior and our Protector. May He open our eyes to all that is
true so that we will see ourselves and the world aright, and then follow Him
faithfully.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) The god of this age has blinded the minds of
unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God.
Romans 5:8 (NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Isaiah 35:3-10 (NIV) 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the
knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful
hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with
vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." 5 Then
will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout
for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7
The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground
bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and
papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it
will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will
be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9
No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on
it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10
and the ransomed of the LORD
will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown
their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will
flee away.
PRAYER: Father, open the eyes of my heart I pray.
Whatever might be shielding me from seeing my sin or your grace… take away.
Give me eyes to see you, myself, and others as you would have me to do. I want
for your work to be displayed in me. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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