Seeing Clearly

For those out there that remember getting glasses for the first time. Do you remember how clear everything looked? It’s amazing how your sight can go from seeing the world as a fuzzy mess to everything being clear and crisp. If you have never needed glasses think of a cleaner window, sunglasses wiped clean, removing obstructions. The clearness of your vision when the dark, smudges, blocked, fuzzy view was removed.

Now think about the clear peace you received when you gave your life to Jesus. Isn’t it crazy how differently you can see and experience the world when your vision is clear? The Christian life gives you a clear vision, like putting on glasses the first time. Ephesians 5:8 (NIV) tells us, “For you were once darkness,” and 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (NIV) explains that the truth and beauty of the gospel is veiled “to those who are perishing.” Why? Because the “god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ.”

Reading over that scripture today was deafening. Those who haven't received Jesus can't even see clearly! It means those who haven’t received Jesus walk through this world blind to the truth, hope, peace, and joy of the Lord. They live day to day in a foggy, fuzzy, unclear mess and they see the world, culture, their circumstances, and themselves as unclear and full of instructions, but not knowing any better. This thought made me sad!

There are Bible stories of Jesus literally returning sight:

“Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.””

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

While these stories are wonderful miracles I am talking about something beyond your vision. I am talking about the truth and the hope that comes with Jesus in your heart. This means that in Christ, our eyes are opened to our true identity and purpose. This means we take our position as His dearly loved children. This clearer sight allows us to see through the haze of cultural lies, of the twisting and distorting of truth, and of sinful strongholds in the world. It means we can see the world, our lives, our mission, and ourselves through the lens of Christ as we “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14 (NKJV) and set our “hearts on things above, where Christ is” (Colossians 3:1 NIV). This also gives us understanding into how others are blinded by conforming to the haze of cultural lies, of the twisting and distorting of truth, and of sinful strongholds in the world.

So, we must use our glasses of Christianity clearly but also help those who are blinded by the world navigate through it on the road that leads back to

Jesus.