The Blind Still Seek Him….
2 Peter 1:5 “…add to and complement your faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, and abounding, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. No day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience with the Master. v9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see…
A Senior Citizen, named Luke Karlovic, arrived at a kindergarten to pick up his five-year-old grandson Peter, an employee called for the boy to come and go home with his grandfather, Peter stepped forward, got in the car and Karlovic drove off towards home with him. A half hour later an all-out police manhunt was set in motion when the missing boy's father turned up at the kindergarten to take his son named Peter home, because Karlovic had mistakenly picked up the wrong boy with the same first name, instead of his grandson from the kindergarten.
Karlovic said, “At 80 yrs old, my eyesight is getting a bit poor now and this was the first time I had seen my grandson for six months. I thought he looked a bit different, but I just marked it up to the fact that kids can change a lot at that age in a short space of time”.
In Mark 8: 22 it gives us some insight recounting one of Jesus' many healing miracles. All of Jesus' healings are extraordinary, but this one is very surprising, because when Jesus prayed, the man still couldn’t see clearly! Jesus takes the blind man, spits on his eyes, lays hands on him, and — ta-da! — the man should see.
Well, no, not quite. What the man says is that he can't see clearly yet. The healing is only partial. When he looks around he says, I see people but they look like trees walking around, his vision was very cloudy.
(when nothing has happened yet, instead of coming to a conclusion, which would bring us into doubt and unbelief…. we need to stay in faith and say… “to be continued”)
So Jesus puts his hands on the man a second time, and this time there is no doubt that the healing is complete, His eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. So the question is, was the initial healing botched? Why the two-stage process?
We have to assume that Jesus could have healed the man at once if he had wanted to. He had no trouble healing other blind people. Therefore, if He chose to heal in two stages, it was deliberate, and part another spiritual principal. This two stage healing was a teaching point for the disciples and for us. Jesus wanted to illustrate a spiritual truth in an indelible way.
He wanted to press home a spiritual truth, that there are levels and different stages to sight…..To understanding who Jesus is, there is a process which we must walk out in the ups and downs of life as we come to know the word made flesh… and begin to think and speak according to God’s kingdom values and principles.
Many are completely blind, some have received partial sight, and a few can see clearly. And we find that Jesus is demonstrating each of these stages of understanding. As the blind man went through stages of clarity of sight, so the disciples, and we today, are going through stages of seeing. The important thing is, not to get discouraged if your sight isn’t yet what you think it ought to be. (Everyone say….”To be continued”)
Two men, Larry and Barry were taking part in a 50-mile run, which was to follow a certain marked out route through the countryside. But they ended up getting lost for 18 hours, eventually finding their way back to the finish line, after running an extra 30 miles. They said they knew they had gone wrong, "When they didn't see anybody else, and no-one had passed them." They said "Our motto has always been 'We finish what we’ve started', but after this we might change it to 'Don't forget your glasses'!"
In Mark 8:34, Jesus begins the vision test with, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. Denying ourselves is often saying “no” to what we want, and yes to Jesus in every aspect of our lives. It means no longer living to please ourselves, but living our whole lives for the sake of God and for others. I don’t think It's that difficult to see where we are not denying ourselves.
When you find yourself saying "I've done my bit; it's somebody else's turn" , then you are not seeing things clearly.
When you find yourself saying "I'm tired of being taken for granted" then, you are not seeing clearly.
When you hit the speed bump at something someone says to you — and your soulish, self-loving response is “how dare them say that to me!" — then you are not seeing clearly.
When your plans and desires matter more to you than the needs of others around you, you are not seeing clearly.
Jim Elliot was a missionary to Ecuador who really saw clearly. Famously he wrote in his journal, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." He was killed at the age of 28 by the head hunter tribe of Auca indians….the very ones he went to spread the gospel to. Jesus is our model, and calls us to, a completely different life. He calls us to come and "Take up your cross daily” and improve your eyesight!
Taking up our cross, means to move from our defeat and into the victory He has secured for us. Just as the Romans required that the condemned person, had to carry their own cross to the place of their crucifixion, a person carrying their cross, is a person who is on their way to the end of their old way of life and the beginning of a new way of life in Christ. It is the beginning of a whole new way of seeing and interpreting everything.
Mark 8:38, Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when I come in My Father's glory with the holy angels”.
If you are embarrassed to tell people about Jesus, then you’re not seeing clearly yet. Could you tell your neighbors? Could you tell your boss? Could you tell your parents? Your children? Could you tell your friends, that you are a Christian, how it changed your life, and then tell them how they can receive Christ too? If not, then we need another touch upon our eyes to see clearly.
Bishop Ryle wrote these words, “A faith that costs nothing is worth nothing. It will do us no good in the life that now is, and it will not produce a salvation that will get us to heaven”.
Jazz pianist George Shearing was blind from birth. The composer of more than three hundred songs, including September rain, Let’s call the whole thing off, I’ll never smile again, and the jazz standard “Lullaby of Birdland,” He toured continually, here and abroad, throughout his long career. He could often be found in busy downtown areas, navigating crowded sidewalks with his dark glasses and white cane. On one occasion, he was at a busy intersection at rush hour, waiting for help in crossing the street. Finally someone tapped him on the shoulder. What Shearing heard next was not an offer for help but a request. “Excuse me, sir,” a stranger said to Shearing, “would you mind helping a blind man cross the street?” And off they went, two blind men negotiating a busy downtown intersection!
There’s always someone depending on us to get them to the other side of their situation, but if we have not made it a priority to have clear sight, we will never be able to help them. The blind will be leading the blind and they will both fall in the ditch together! There are some people that you really don’t want to give you directions in life!
A letter was received from the “Management Evaluation Consultants”… Who evaluated Jesus’ disciples regarding their fitness to become His apostles of the first church. It read, “Dear sir, Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. Following their evaluation, we are sending you the results. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, he is great at meeting people, he has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your lead apostle and right-hand man”. Thank God, that in all but one of these, their past didn’t determine their future and they received clearer and clearer kingdom vision, as they stayed close to the Lord and submitted to His word.
Let’s look at some steps we can all take, to clearer vision….
First step….Live with a sense of urgency…
What if we declared the remainder of our days as “No regret” days. To be able to look each other in the eye and say “I didn’t live in the past. I didn’t worry about the future. I embraced each day as a gift. I didn’t take life for granted. I didn’t take the people in my life for granted this week.”
If your past is covered by God’s grace and your future is covered by God’s favor, then where should we live? We should live in the NOW. We should live in the present, because that is the only place we can really do anything about it.
Many of us suffer from the “someday syndrome”. Someday I’ll make things right with my mom. Someday I’ll take that trip. Someday I’ll have more time for the kids. Someday I’ll talk to my friend about Jesus. Someday I’ll go back to school. Don’t get me wrong, Goals are good, but the problem with “Some day” thinking is that it robs us of “This Day”!
The past is gone, the future doesn’t exist so do it today!
Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although he was poor, he was envied by everyone, because he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before -- such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength.
People offered fabulous prices for the beautiful animal, but the old man always refused. One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. All the village came to see him. "You old fool," they scoffed, "we told you that someone would steal your horse. Now the horse is gone, and you've got nothing to show for it."The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is jumping to conclusions. How can you know if the horse is stolen? How can you judge?" All we can see is only part of the picture. Who can say what will come next?" The people of the village laughed. They thought that the man was a fool.
After fifteen days, the horse returned. He hadn't been stolen; he had run away to join a herd of other horses. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him. Once again the village people gathered around the woodcutter and spoke. "Old man, you were right and we were wrong. What we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us for placing our fears and negativity on you." The man responded, " Say only that the horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don't jump to conclusions. How do you know what it will all come to”
The old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break the wild horses, he fell and broke both legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and made their judgments."You were right," they said. The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a curse. The old man spoke again. "Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows what it will all come to? No one knows. We must not jump to conclusions. Life comes in fragments."
It so happened that a few weeks later the country engaged in war against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he was injured. Once again the people gathered around the old man, in great distress, because all their sons had been taken. There was little chance that they would ever return. The enemy was strong, and the war would be a losing struggle. They would never see their sons again."
You were right, old man," they wept. "God knows you were right. This proves it. Your son's accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but at least he is here with you. Our sons are gone forever." The old man spoke again. "No one knows. Say only this: Your sons had to go to war, and mine did not. We will not jump to conclusions, because we do not know what the future brings. None of us is wise enough to know. Only God knows."
Matthew 5:45 “That you may truly be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends His rain on the just and on the unjust”.
The truth is that God has planned that all people be blessed, but He will not exempt us from the consequences of our own actions that are done in opposition to Him. The moment we turn to Christ, repent of our rebellion and receive Him, a new day begins. We will have tests, trials and challenges, but they all line us up for His blessings! God is determined to bless someone here today, and He know how to get it to you!!!!
Another step to clearer vision, is…. Live with a sense of eternity… While we need to learn to embrace today, we must never live as though “today” is all there is.
A lot of Christians live like this is all there is and become victims of the spiritual “dumbing down” effect of this world. Let’s be honest, most of us can get so consumed with pursuing the good life here and now, getting a paycheck, paying the bills, making a life, and saving for retirement, that the stuff that really matters, the stuff of eternity, gets pushed to the back of our minds.
The Bible talks about our salvation in past, present and future tense. There was a moment in the past when I personally received Christ as my Savior. At that moment of conversion the Bible says that I was “born again”, I was saved.
But the Bible also says that I am “being” saved which is a constant present tense. Salvation isn’t just an historical event, it is living and dynamic and active as a treasured value in my life today and every day.
But, the Bible also talks about my salvation in the future. It is the idea that my salvation will one day culminate in eternity’s day, in the presence of Jesus, no longer struggling with sin, as I move through eternity in my glorified body, where I will rule and reign with Him forever and ever.
When we live in His love, we are living in the climate of eternity.
We are all rushing headlong toward eternity. Our bodies are temporary and what a tragedy it would be for us to arrive and not be prepared because we have not begun to walk in eternity now!
The real challenge before us is to make the “now moments” count! There is no second chance after death. Now is the time for those who live this way, to declare…”Oh grave where is your victory, oh death, where is your sting”!!
A minister, was making plans for his funeral. He asked that two trumpeteers be stationed on each end of his casket. It was his wish that at the close of the service the trumpeter on one side would play taps, (or the ending of the day). And when he was finished the trumpeter on the other end was to play reveille, (or the wake up call). What a beautiful picture of the reality that when we are laid to rest after this life, we get up to a life in eternity’s new unending day .
Another step we can take to clearer vision…..Live with a sense of priority…. When I live with a kind of bi-focal vision, one eye on eternity and one eye on the gift of “today”, then I can really begin to prioritize my life and actions in proper order. Jesus said to render unto Caesar what was Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s!
That way, I can know WHAT I should do, WHERE I should spend my time, HOW I should behave and WHEN to work and when to rest. We need to “Take off” the things that keep us fearful, fractured and frantic. We need to repent from having a hurried, impatient spirit. We need to “put off” some things that clutter up and complicate our lives. Simplify, simplify, simplify! We should slow down to enjoy, savor, linger over, and relish those things that really matter.
Romans 13:12 contains these practical words, “So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.”
“Putting on” right living, requires change. It requires adjusting the place of the cross in our lives. It requires a decision. It requires effort. It won’t happen by accident. We will not pass this way again.
Psalm 46:10 says “Be STILL and know that I am God.”
You cannot follow Jesus at a mad rush. Rushing through everything, is the enemy of intimacy; both intimacy with God and the people we love. Jesus commanded us to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy… That’s just another way of saying slow down, turn aside, rest in me, put me at the center. At the beginning of each week, give me priority…It is desperately needed for fatigued and frazzled believers today. God knew we needed a time to “reset”, so our perspective would be clear and unclouded.
There is an amazing promise for all who will put Him first…. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
No one has ever had the kind of personal laser vision that Jesus had because of the time He spent with the Father improving His vision.
He noticed an inconspicuous tax collector sitting in a Sycamore tree. He saw a blind man sitting by the side of the road. He paid attention when a diseased woman desperate for healing reached out and just touched his robe. He saw and embraced the children that everyone else ignored.
God left you on earth for a greater purpose….When we are living with an eternal perspective, we are free to stop chasing after all the stuff that doesn’t matter… we are free to stop living only for the approval of others… we are free to not have to conform, and just be ourselves.
Seeing clearer is…More about today, less about tomorrow… More about people, less about possessions… More about God’s priorities, less about me and my agenda….More about the eternal things, less about the temporal things. THIS WEEK….let’s decide now that we will make relationships a greater priority. For the sake of ourselves, others, and the Kingdom, we need another touch on our eyes, then another, and another.
Have people and things been upsetting your apple cart poopsie? Has it been getting turned head over teakettle, and upside down, by the speed bumps in life’s road? That’s usually a sign that you need a vision check….
It is much safer, from Satan’s point of view, to vaccinate a person with a mild case of religious Christianity, you know, just enough to keep them under a load of guilt and regret and condemnation, and that’s certainly not my purpose here, but a superficial spirituality will keep folks from getting a good dose of the real thing.” –
No wonder Jesus said in 1Corinthians 13:9 “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, v.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away with”.
If Jesus were to ask us, as He did the blind man, “what do you see” how would we respond? Do you feel there is another level in the Christian life that you are missing out on? Do you want more...because you know He has promised you more… the first step is recognizing that we need a fresh touch in why, what, where and how we see.
In Ontario a woman named Rose Crawford is a very happy lady. She had been blind for 50 years. Surgery restored her vision.The amazing thing about the story, however, is that 20 years of her blindness had been unnecessary. She didn’t know that surgical techniques had been developed, and that an operation could have restored her vision at the age of 30.
So, why did she continue to assume that her situation was hopeless? It was because no one had told her about the wonderful advances in eye surgery! If only they had known, she could have enjoyed 20 years of better vision, seen her husband, children and grandchildren and our beautiful world.
Paul prays, in his letter to the Ephesians 1:17 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Himself, v.18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, v.19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power which has been imparted to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power”…Hallelujah!!!
I want us to believe God for a revival that will have the Devil praying for the rapture, just to get us out of his sight!!!
The men who came to Philip in John 12:21, said "Sir, we want to see Jesus." Oh, to see more of Him today in our lives. More revelation of His love and more of His power and presence. Are you hungry for a deeper relationship with Him and a longing to see Him as He truly is?
You can know that revival is happening when there is a spiritual migration outside the walls of the church and we begin to show forgiveness to our enemies…to strangers, we show tolerance and acceptance… to our friends, we show our heart…..to customers, we show considerate service… to everyone, we show charity….. to every child, we show a good, Godly example… to ourselves, we show respect….to God, we show our very best of 0ur soul's devotion…
Life is short, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly and generously, laugh uncontrollably, appreciate and honor those around you and live like any moment you might step into eternity.
There’s a song on the radio that says..“ I'm so very ordinary, nothing special on my own and I have never walked on water, and I have never calmed a storm. Sometimes I'm hiding away from the madness around me. Like a child who's afraid of the dark….
(chorus) But when I call on Jesus, all things are possible, I can mount on wings like eagles and soar. When I call on Jesus, mountains are gonna fall, 'cause Heaven and earth, will come rescue me, when I call.
Let’s come together and call on Him to touch us again, and finish the unfinished things, to complete what is still yet incomplete. He would not leave the blind man with partial vision, and He will not leave you without another touch, to bring completion to all that you bring to Him….
