I have healthy eyes and don’t need glasses for reading and writing, yet I cannot see when I drive and I have to wear glasses.
Just because I see in one context does not mean I can see in other contexts.
After acknowledging that I was blind, I was joyful to know that I was on the track to see. Initially, it was shocking to know I was blind. But this new identity led me into a path of seeing better. This was liberating.
Jesus said, He came into the world so that the blind would see, so I accepted the identity of being blind. Especially since Jesus assured that He came so that the blind would see. Here are the verses from the Bible in blue font. “Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be separation between those who believe in Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind.” (John 9:39 AMPC version )
As I further read the chapter, Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9:39 AMPC version)
I don’t let my understanding limit my accepting spiritual truths from the Bible. I know I cannot fathom the greatness of the Creator God of the Universe with my mind the size of a speck of sand. But as I walk in faith and obedience, He reveals layer upon layer of resplendent truth, truth that is beautiful.
Blind to the errors of our ways
So I thought about these verses. I know that the Bible, the Word of God, is true. I started asking God to open my eyes, so that I would start seeing.
After a persistent prayer through the day, I started being aware of the errors of my ways. One by one, I remembered them, and soon I understood that I was indeed blind.
If I could have seen and known these things earlier, I would have always gone through the right paths, but now I realize it was only because I was blind, I thought and walked and spoke and acted wrongly.
I would not have realised the errors of my path if I considered that I could see. But after accepting that I was blind, I have begun to see. Thus, Jesus Christ revealed to me what I was not aware of. It was only in His light, the darkness within me was being dispelled.
Many think they can see. Ignorant, they are blind.
Often ignorance is the major reason, people remain so.
Zacchaeus, the tax collector, was blind. We have a brief biography about him in Luke 19:1-10. As he was also short, he could not see. He had to climb a sycamore tree to be able to see.
Once he climbed the tree, he could see Jesus. Jesus could also see him, as the other taller people around Zacchaeus could not block Jesus from seeing him. Zacchaeus climbing up the tree did help.
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up [a]and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” (Luke 19:5)
He was overjoyed. He had sought to have a glimpse of Jesus the celebrity who was passing that way, never had he ever considered Jesus noticing him, now Jesus Christ speaking to him, never considered that Jesus would visit his home.
Being with Jesus, in the presence of Jesus, the eyes of Zacchaeus opened. He saw differently and based on what he saw differently, he acted differently. He who was a hoarder of wealth by hook or crook decided to return what he had taken wrongly and what he owed others. There is no record of Jesus ever telling Zacchaeus to return ill gotten money. But the very presence of Jesus made Zacchaeus start seeing from the perspective of Jesus. Here is the scripture portion which speaks about this.
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Like Zacchaeus, we have an option to try and see and hear Jesus. I did not have to climb the sycamore tree. Instead I found a Bible and read it. I prayed for my eyes to be open, so that I could see.
Bible verse backing this: The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16b NKJV)
The Bible mentions many instances of blindness to the error of our ways being healed. Do you recall the lady who was caught in the act of adultery. The teachers of the religious law and Pharisees eagerly wanted to follow the law of Moses. Hence they wanted to stone her to death, but they wanted to do so after getting the approval of Jesus.
When we as very religious people try to seek the approval of Jesus before we stone another person, judge and condemn another person, we are in the best place we can be.
Jesus spoke to them and He even speaks today to us like this as mentioned in the Bible. They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.” (John 8:1-11 NLT)
Blindness of the heavenly realm
I have not seen the heavenly realm, but I know people who see it. My pastor sees angels. He has mentioned this many times during service. He has introduced the Holy Spirit to the students he was teaching. He asked the students to come and get introduced to the Holy Spirit. And each student as they approached the specific location which they were asked to, they were slain in the Spirit. The Glory of the Holy Spirit manifested.
I desire to see the Heavenly realm. At the time of writing this blog post, I do not, but I am expecting. Soon, I expect to see. How soon I do not know. But I choose to pursue.
We know that Jesus Christ opened the eyes of Nathaniel. Philip found Nathanael and was trying to bring him to Jesus to introduce him. But he refused to go as he did not think that the savior would come from Nazareth. But finally as Philiph persisted, Nathaniel obliged.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel, Jesus and Nathaniel were meeting each other for the first time. But Jesus knew Nathaniel from the realm of heaven which he had access to. These are two mind blowing statements that Jesus made about Nathaniel.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” (John 1:47 & 48 NIV)
Nathaniel was amazed beyond every reason. Nathaniel who was wonder struck told that Jesus was the Son of God. The belief and confession of Nathaniel led Jesus to open the eyes of Nathaniel.
Jesus said this.
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’the Son of Man.” (John 1:50-51 NIV)
We can also have our eyes open to the Heavenly realm like Nathaniel. Jesus would do it for us. Let us draw near to Him and acknowledge Him as the Lord over our life.
Excited about what our eyes would start seeing as we draw near to Him and have Jesus as our Lord and saviour. God richly bless you.
