Do You See What I See

In spite of the title on this blog, it does not necessarily have a Christmas theme. Although one could make application to the carol of the season.

I am not sure when it was exactly when I first began to loose my normal vision. It was definitely in the 90s after I had finished my graduate work. I blamed it on reading one to two thousand pages a week during seminary, sometimes more. That kind of toil could take its toll on the best of eyes.  Nevertheless, I found I needed glasses. Like many, I started with bifocals and then my vision slowly degenerated to the point where I now wear trifocal lenses.  I still do not like it and wish it were different.

The thing about wearing glasses is a small phenomenon of grime. If you wear glasses you can identify with this. Over a period of time the lenses become filthy. Yet, somehow, I continue to look through them as though they were clean. It is not until I take them off and hold them to the light that I become appalled at how dirty they had become.  Once I clean them, I realize how nice clean lenses can be.

When reading Jeremiah, it seems that in the beginning chapters this can be an analogy of what the people called Israel had become.  They were so accustomed to their rebellion toward God and their chasing after idols, that they failed to realize how dirty their vision had become. They had not only turned their face away from Yahweh, they had turned their back to Him in whoring after other gods. (2:27)

In their lack of clear vision, they apparently wanted to contend with God that things were really not as bad as they appeared. In spite of how dirty their vision had become, they said, "I am innocent, surely his anger has turned from me." (2:35) However, we know that that is not the case at all.

I get the same way with sin in my life. I am so used to seeing it or living with it that I can no longer perceive its danger or its ultimate penalty.  It is only when I clean the spectacles of my heart, that I see how dirty it has become.

Do you see what I see? Perhaps not. Nevertheless, you might find if you hold your lenses up to the light of God's Word, you could be surprised.

Jesus said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness." (Matthew 6:22-23 ESV)

Do you see what I see?

Father, let me keep my lenses clean. I want to see clearly what it is that keeps me from enjoying full fellowship with You.