After college we gave our daughter what she describes as “one of my life’s greatest gifts”—lasik surgery. Since the second grade Natalie had worn glasses or contacts, barely able to see without them. When we arrived at the surgery center, I was told that I could watch the procedure in another room. Not sure if I wanted to witness this, I entered the screening room and waited. On a large monitor, about 3 feet by 2 feet, Natalie’s magnified green eye took up the entire screen. Wow!
I sat amazed in wonder. “This is my daughter’s eye!”
Two things blew my mind. First, God’s intricate design of the human eye—every speck of color: green, yellow, brown, blue. Such detail and such beauty—a masterpiece concealed. Second, I pondered this modern medical technology. Fifteen minutes per eye transformed her vision from impaired to perfect—a marvelous gift indeed!
The Bible draws parallels between physical sight and spiritual sight. Jesus asks, “Do you have eyes but fail to see?” (Mark 8:18). The answer, a disappointing yes, because our sinful nature distorts our view. We can’t discern spiritual truth if we rely on human eyes. Our short-sightedness limits our reasoning, our logic, our judgment.
God wants his children to see clearly and he gifts us with new sight. Part of our new nature is an enlightened heart and mind. The truth of God’s Word and the anointing of God’s Spirit work together to open our spiritual eyes (1 John 2:20, 26-27; John 16:13,15). Psalm 19:8 tells us “The commands of the Lord are radiant giving light to the eyes.”
Paul writes to the Corinthians, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).
Just as lasik surgery alters human sight, God’s Word and God’s Spirit give us spiritual perception.
Paul prays for believers to have spiritual insight in order to grasp truth, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19). If we could only see a fraction of the spiritual resources available to us, our lives would be radically different.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18).
How has memorizing Scripture improved your vision?
I just finished memorizing: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23
And I especially love Psalm 19:8 which you shared, “The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
I enrolled in a photography class recently and we met for the first time last night. It is a very basic class and the teacher was conveying some fundamental truths about photography. One of the slides in his power point presentation contained a quote from some famous photographer that said “It’s all about the light”. I grinned from ear to ear because I am working on 1 John and had just memorized “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you – God is light. In him there is no darkness at all.” God is all about the light! 🙂
I love how our awesome God weaves the Texts memorized and faithfully cross references in our brains. And I love, also, how He weaves in the reality of our lives.
Richie–you had me grinning with you, post class. 🙂
Even this morning I was praying for God to open my eyes to see what he is doing, and to help me trust him even when I can’t see. In time God will show me as I continue to seek him.
LOVE THIS!
I have SEEN that not only was I OUTED at the cross for my sin nature and my sins past, present AND future, but as I have memorized verse after verse, chapter after chapter, the Holy Spirit has outed me time and again as I SEE sin that I didnt think was! As I SEE little tiny thoughts or behaviors that are normal, acceptable and par for the course to others and the world, but through scripture, and through the EYES of the Spirit of God revealed in scripture, I SEE so much HORSE POOTEY in my life that I hadn’t SEEN before that is truly sin in the EYES of God. Much of it my thought life— as negativity and criticism seem to be an inert part of my DNA.
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly SEEN,(no Lasik necessary?) being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse….”Romans 1:20 (parenthesis mine)
We can SEE Gods attributes, power and glory all around us without having memorized even John 3:16, or Rom 3:23, but when we etch in our memory long passages, chapters and books, the Holy Spirit seems to do a spiritual surgery in us that is more powerful than well.., even a laser! We then are brought to our knees time and again as we realize how important our salvation really is.
Janet, You got it going on girl when it comes to awesome spiritual illustrations. Thank you so much.
Dear, dear Chérie, you have a new DNA in Jesus Messiah. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of Truth, having believed YOU WERE MARKED IN HIM WITH A SEAL, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians, chapter 1, right before our brother Paul’s prayer that we would have wisdom and revelation.
The Greek word for sealed is: σφραγίζω, or sphragizō.
It means to make fast with seal or signet, for example letters and writings. To stamp. For protection and security.
It can mean to hide.
The purpose is to mark a person or thing so that it is undeniable.
This is the same Greek word that is used in Revleation 7 when the 144,000 (of all the tribes of Israel) are supernaturally sealed for protection during the tribulation.
Our struggles are natural–of sin and flesh. Our seal is supernatural–of holiness and Spirit.
Your comment made me think that HOLY SPIRIT kissed you with God’s very DNA at your conversion. HE LOVES YOU that much.
The struggles are temporary and praise God, we will persevere to the end.
The seal is our promise that the struggle will indeed end… JESUS WINS!
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
Sealed with His DNA.
Blood spilled out.
Eternal covenant of the God of Peace.
Thank you Holly for your beautiful and true response. I hope it helps some others as well. It is what the New Testament tells us over and over that we have a new DNA, even though on this side of the fall, we might have genetic predispositions to one thing or another, we definitely need to be reminded of and keep claiming the blood that covers us and the DNA that is now ours. I never knew the meaning of the word “seal” although I kind of thought it was like the old melting wax that I had back in the 70’s to put on the back of mailing envelopes? Thank you Holly and BTW, love the references to Ephesians , (MINE!), and 1 John, (MINE!). (hee hee)
… (OURS!)…(OURS!)
Glorious LaughOutLoud, and…
“Thank You, Jesus!”