Blindness is a Serious Condition

April 12th, 2025
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In my men’s small group we were studying in John 9 about the man born blind and the disciples asking why he was blind (actually more like judging him). If you know the story, Jesus gave the man his sight! He did this again and again, giving sight to the blind.

Isaiah 35:5-6 says this about the coming Messiah, “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” 
 
Eyes that see… 
   Ears that can hear… 
      Legs that leap for joy… 
         Songs that loudly express joy in the Lord… and, streams flowing in deserts.

What a picture! Jesus told John the Baptist who was doubting and struggling while in prison, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised…”

Blindness is a serious condition to be sure, but certainly the most serious condition is a blind heart! The inability to “see” the Lord and trust Him. The condition of the heart that turns from the Lord and goes about life with only what their eyes can see through their own reason. This, my church, is a blindness that is of most seriousness. Over the years I have met with many who are heart-wrenched over the chaos and destruction they have caused because of the blindness of their sin! The blindness of deceit, of hiding, lying… I have seen it countless times over the years as someone is exposed (or, more unusually confesses) of their blindness in sin! O, that we could see what would come of the fallout! (Proverbs lays out a very clear picture of it if you read through it.)

In my reading this week through the Bible I was in 2 Kings 6 where a servant of God had his eyes opened to what he couldn’t see. The city he found himself in was surrounded by those who would destroy them. Elisha prayed for him that his eyes would be opened to “see”. Verse 17 says, “So the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” There was good reason why the servant was fearful and cowering… he couldn’t “see” until the Lord opened his eyes! And then… wow! Sight to see!

O, that the Lord would open our eyes too! Eyes to see the dangers and pitfalls of a course set on sin; eyes to see when fear entangles our hearts; eyes to see when we see no way out. 
How’s your eyesight?
Lord, give sight to us all!
                           
Nothing on my own,

Pastor John

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