Whether we are aware of it or not, after the fall of our first parents, we all have stepped into this world as spiritually blind men. When I think of a physically blind man, I cannot help but consider the different challenges he goes through regularly. I was privileged to help a blind woman at a church I used to go to. This woman learned to adapt to her new reality and demonstrated the courage that it takes to keep the faith despite her challenges. I remember when I first met her, I thought about how difficult it must have been for her in the first couple of years as she adjusted to her new lifestyle. Usually, people who are blind are very aware of the challenges that come with their disability. Often, they try to regain control of their autonomy, but they can’t seem to control it. And very often, they worry or are very cautious about not knocking things down. And sometimes they think that they have become a burden to those around them because their visual impairment limits their mobility and makes them more prone to self-injury. They have to learn to rely on an assistive device when they need to move around, which is usually a long cane. Yet some may still need somebody else to guide them even while using their assistive device.
Today, we hear people talk about the struggle human beings face concerning the loss of control. Therefore, we can only imagine the struggles and the supplications of those who have totally lost control of their physical sight and ability to move around freely because of their disability.
And somebody else may say, well, how does that relate to us even in the spiritual sense?
I can say that our spiritual blindness can be just as difficult and dangerous as physical blindness. In fact, spiritual blindness is even worse because one is often unaware of this condition, which can make us more prone to endanger ourselves and others. Also, it can be contagious; that’s why the Bible says we have to guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). Have you noticed that it is much easier to do the wrong thing than to do the right thing? Also, have you noticed that one bad action or one lie can lead to so many other sins that you probably didn’t sign up for? Jesus told His disciples, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7: 13-14). I wonder why it’s only a few that find it. Is it because the broad road is easier and more accessible?
Another thing to consider is that when someone experiences physical blindness, they usually use a long white cane because they are not safe and steady without it. I believe it is the same thing when we are spiritually blind. However, many Christians think they must rely on religious rules; otherwise, they think they are not safe or cannot be trusted. These canes can show up in the form of performance, the pressure to have, to prove, or to keep themselves busy so they won’t fall into sin. They have made their assistive device a bunch of religious rules. Yet, they often realize that despite their rules, they are just as fragile as those blind ones who perhaps don’t even know these rules. In other words, religious rules cannot get rid of our blindness no matter how much effort we put into them. And someone else might say, well, what about God’s law? We have to remember that God has given us His law as a mirror to see ourselves when we sin, but the law itself cannot heal, save, repair, and restore us. Otherwise, the Pharisees and the Sadducees would have been exempted from needing a Savior, for they were doctors of the law.
So, how do we recover our sight if the assistive device can only help but not solve the problem?
Similar to when someone goes to see their doctor for a serious illness. Usually, doctors don’t talk about surgery until after they have used up all other options. This is no different from our spiritual blindness. There must be a time in our spiritual walk with God where we have no other choice but to meet the surgeon and healer of our soul. And His name is none other than Jesus Christ. Scripture says, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9
One thing I learned when I went to nursing school was that when a part of the body needs surgery, the surgeon will always make sure that their clients are fully aware of the necessity of adhering to the post-operative care instructions. They will make sure their clients are aware of them before they are sedated so they can know what to expect and what is expected of them after surgery. Also, we all know that any surgery carries the potential for complications. Hence, surgeons ensure their clients know the steps even before the process begins. They will have pre-op instructions, which the health care team expects them to collaborate on, and post-op instructions, which the health care team expects them to follow after surgery. This sounds like the passages of Scripture that talk about how Christians are saved (Ephesians 2:8), are being saved (1 Corinthians 1:18), and will be saved (Romans 5:9). In other words, we still have work to do after we gave our lives to Jesus. Also, I notice that at times Jesus would command those whom He healed, whether emotionally or physically, to go and sin no more (John 8:11, John 5:14). This indicates that there is still something they need to do even after receiving their healing to avoid complications. This can also relate to the parable of the return of an unclean spirit in Matthew 12: 43-45. It says that “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, I will return to the house I left. When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” This is why Jesus also says, “We must abide in Him because without Him we cannot do anything.” John 15:4-11. Therefore, when He heals us of our infirmities, our physical and/or spiritual blindness, we must not let go of Him. We maintain our sight by fixing our eyes on Jesus. One of the Biblical passages that shows how dangerous it is to focus on everything and everyone else except Jesus is in Matthew 14:22-33. The example is when Peter walked on water. He started walking on the water very well, but as soon as he shifted his focus to the winds and waves, he began to sink. This emphasizes to us that Jesus must be our focus, not our circumstances.
Consequently, we remain healthy and free from spiritual blindness by keeping our eyes on Jesus through prayer, fasting, the reading of the Word, and living a life of worship and service unto God. It is also important for us to remember that God doesn’t have to manipulate us to follow His post-op care instructions because when we remember what our spiritual blindness has caused us, for some of us it has caused the destruction of our homes and caused us to hurt our loved ones. Therefore, when we remember how crippled and bound we were before Jesus stepped in, this should provoke something within us where we feel the need to stick to God’s post-op care instructions.
So, I encourage you to keep following Jesus, dear! You Got This!
SCRIPTURES
“Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Romans 3:20
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5
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