What Do You See?

Not long ago my wife, Kim, took our three children to the optometrist for eye examinations. Any trip to the “doctor” is usually a little unnerving, but since there would be no shots given this trip, the kids didn’t complain. It turns out that Brayden’s vision was just fine while our girls needed corrective lenses. So after a few days had passed, Madison received her new contact lenses and Mallory her new red glasses. The following morning as we pulled out of the driveway bound for school, Madison said, “I can see the pinecones up in the tops of the trees.” That was a strange thing for me to hear, because I have always been able to see them. At first I felt a little guilty. I did not realize there were any problems with their vision, and then I remembered my parents telling me of a similar situation with my brother many years ago. It is a good idea to have your vision checked. You might be surprised by what you see.

Chapter nine in the book of John tells the story of a man, blind from birth, who came in contact with Jesus. The Lord made some mud, placed it on the man’s eyes, and then sent him to the Pool of Siloam to wash it off. John 9:7 says, “So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” God has given you friends, relatives, and neighbors that are struggling in some manner with their “spiritual vision.” As a Christian, you are able to see and enjoy the blessings and the purposes of God while they seem to struggle for any glimpse of hope and meaning in life. My prayer for each of us echoes that of the early believers - “O Lord…give your servants great boldness in their preaching” (Acts 4:29).

This day, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). We might just be surprised by what we see.