SPIRITUAL SIGHT

 Spiritual Sight

            by  Manny  Molinar

January/February 2016 ACTS magazine

Perspective, right or wrong, is someone's way of making a determination on any and all matters that come across our lives. Take "Theology" for instance, "The Study of God," everyone has a different perspective on what they know about God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It's like looking into a prism that has many faces; and depending on which angle you're coming from, one cannot make that point of view as the only single view to reference God. We learn from the Word of God, from beginning to the end, how we can view and/or understand the character and attributes of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Is knowing God and His Son important? Absolutely! If someone were to ask you; "What is eternal life?" Your best answers can only come from the Biblical perspective: John 17:3 says; "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

There are only two ways we can view life and its significance of our existence on this Earth and can affect our relationship with our God: Whether we walk according to the flesh, or, we walk according to the Spirit. Proper perspective requires having good "Spiritual Sight." Our perception of God and how we live, before we come to knowledge of the Word of God, can be influenced by culture, secular education, parental and the religious upbringing. The church that I came out of would not allow the people to read the Bible.

In my very first class of School of Theology in 1977, our Professor asked us this question; "How do we know what we know about God?" All 15 of us gave our answers and not one of us said that it was because the Bible said so! And then he said; "That being the case, for this class, forget everything you know and let's learn what Scripture will reveal to you about God." Scripture says in Matthew 6:22, 23; "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (clear), thy whole body shall be full of light" v.23; "But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great (terrible) is that darkness!"

The very first words recorded that were spoked by God are found in Genesis 1:3; "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" He could of said it this way; "Let there be life," because everything He created from that point on required all elements of life sustaining energy. In the book of John in describing the Deity of Christ the Scripture says; John 1:4 "in him was life, and the life was the light of men." v.5 "And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

Some of the things that affect the human sight range from farsightedness, or nearsightedness, to total blindness. 20/20 is normal vision; 20/40 is what is required to pass the visual for driving a car. If you don't pass, you're required to get corrective lenses. The same goes with spiritual sight; having the same defects in seeing the Spiritual side of life as mentioned above; from farsightedness, or nearsightedness, to total blindness. Here are some classic examples seen through the "Spiritual Eye of Understanding."

1. Spiritual Nearsightedness: 

Having this condition can only allow us to see things that are near. In 2 Peter 1:3-8, Peter is telling us how we should grow in Christ; that Christ, v.5 "has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness," and those are described in verses 5-8. So, if we do not apply these things in our living, our spiritual eyesight is fluid. In verse 9 Peter describes this condition by saying; "But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." Then Peter in verses 9, 10 tells us why it's important to have perfect spiritual sight. The definition of nearsightedness in the physical is the state of deterioration from good vision; eyes lose their focus on those things that are far off. Spiritually speaking, Godly living goes out of focus where earthly material things are the only things we focus on and the Heavenly things are not so clear anymore. The Laodicea Church had that same problem; see Revelation 3:14-18.

2. Spiritual Farsightedness: 

The definition here is where eyes lose their shape in a different way and can only see things that are far, not near. In Spiritual matters, most of us can be these folks if not careful with our sight: Their only concern and studies are focused on all things future. It's all about the coming Kingdom; the when, where, who and the why; but neglect their Christian duties in the now, as they live. Missing endless opportunities to serve Christ now. Peter is a classic example in the mountain of the transfiguration where he was saw the Kingdom of God, but seemed more focus in the here and now: Let's build tents and stay right here.

3. Total Spiritual Blindness: 

The Jewish people had this problem as described in 2 Corinthians 3:14, 15; "But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ." v. 15 "but even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. "In Romans 11: 7-10 Paul refers to the Prophesy toward the Israelites and verse 10 ends by saying; "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED, THAT THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND BOW DOWN THEIR BACK AWAY."

The same can be said about us as we can see in 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4; "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: v.4; "In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

So, it begs the question; what can we do about it to correct the problem? 

The healing can only be obtained by turning your eyes upon Jesus Christ! As we read in 2 Corinthians 4 after verses 3 and 4 we read in verse 6; "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" In 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 gives us the cause and effect when turn eyes to the Lord.

To have good Spiritual Vision we need training and applying what we learn through Scripture past, present and the future. Romans 15:4 says; "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Learning from the past and applying it in our lives in the present, with hope and comfort so that we can prepare well for the future coming of Christ's Kingdom. In the Faith chapter in Hebrews 11:13-16 we see how our forefathers saw what laid ahead and lived in Faith.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path" Psalm 119:105. 

And finally: Matthew 5:16 "Let our light (your life) so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 

The Bible is the corrective lenses needed to see Jesus and live!

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ACTS  magazine 

Advocating Christ The Savior