Blinded

In my family, macular degeneration sneaks in during older years, and destroys eyesight. It leaves some peripheral vision, so one can kinda see in a rather stunted way (or so I’m told). But reading, watching television, and other ways we “see” are gone. Over time even the peripheral vision goes.

In II Corinthians 4, the Apostle Paul describes how “the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.” (NIV) Only the work of the Holy Spirit can reverse this total blindness, especially when it is a blindness someone doesn’t recognize is there. Sadly, that blindness can be intensified by the behavior of some who claim to be believers through condemnation, nagging, and generally trying to claim the job of the Holy Spirit as their own. There is a kind of creeping spiritual macular degeneration going on.

Even in my own mind as a believer there are places where I am blind, things I don’t see or recognize yet about the glory of Christ and the light of the gospel. Especially things about myself: my behavior, my faults, my shortcomings, my self-righteousness.

But! I do have “His light shining in my heart giving me the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (II COR. 4:6 NIV) Spiritual macular degeneration can be reversed if I am willing to set aside my pride and my unwillingness to love as He loves me.

Lord, I want to see!