The Cumulative Effects of Spiritual Blindness
"I had no idea what was coming at me," said California ophthalmologist Katerina Kurteeva as she painstakingly removed one contact lens after another from the eyes of an elderly patient. All in all, Dr. Kurteeva removed 23 layers of lenses.
It seems the elderly woman either didn’t know or had forgotten that she must remove previous contact lenses before placing new ones. The ensuing blurred vision caused her to keep inserting more lenses in the hopes of correcting the problem. Her vision blurred more and more until she finally sought medical help.
Fortunately, the lenses were removed before permanent damage was done.
Amazingly, this wasn’t even the worst case ever reported, with a UK doctor having removed a record 27 lenses from the eyes of another elderly patient back in 2017.
Follow this link to observe a video of the procedure.
Like the blinding physical effects of these layers of lenses, the effects of spiritual blindness can build up slowly, creeping up on us as we focus on life through worldly lenses.
When we view the world without benefit of the light of the Word of God, we just keep adding layers of worldy perspective upon previous layers, until we either realize our perspective is skewed and seek help, or we simply, over time, become “blind” to our own blindness.
It may take someone else making us aware of our skewed vision, helping us to remove the layers of worldly perspective, and opening our eyes to the clarity of a scriptural worldview.
Don’t give into delusion. Don't wait until you are utterly blind. Seek help. Look to the Word of God to bring clarity and light to the eyes of your soul.
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18, ESV)
“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17, ESV).
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4, ESV).
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins” (2 Peter 1:5-9, NIV).
Stop Everything and Listen
A 1970s TV Commercial features a couple of men in a busy restaurant. At the surrounding tables, people are noisily chattering away and two waiters are putting food on the table. The men are talking about finding good stocks and one says, "My broker is E.F. Hutton and Hutton says ..." In that instant, everything stops and everyone leans in to hear what might be said. Silent seconds pass. Then a narrator says, When EF Hutton speaks, people listen."
There is more noise and distractions in the world than ever before; more voices; more options; more to do and to say; and more that demands our attention. Nevertheless, God speaks. We need only to want to heed his voice and do His will.
A good stock tip might swell your bank account but the Word of God will fill your heart and guarantee you treasure in heaven.
"But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." (Habbukuk 2:20)
The Hope Effect
I’ve recently been struggling with what the doctor tells me is Athlete’s Foot. You know, at this point of my life, I am glad to be associated with the word athlete no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
So I’ve been using this over the counter stuff and it works, but when I stop using it, the Athlete's Foot immediately returns. So, I went back to my doctor and told him, “You know, I need something more powerful to kick this thing. I'd like to completely get rid of it.”
He said, "Ok, I’m going to give you the most powerful drug on the market."
After I got the prescription filled, I read the little paper that came with it. It contained a list of all of the weird things this drug might do to those who administer it.
There, I also found the results of a controlled study. Sixty percent of the people found the drug effective. Of course, in a controlled study, there are those who are given a placebo, instead. Forty-four percent of those who took the placebo also found it effective.
I was amazed to read that forty-four percent of the time the placebo did the job. That’s almost as good as the actual medication! As I considered those numbers, I thought to myself, that is an illustration of the power of hope!
When we expect something to help us, it is incredible how helpful that can be all by itself. Hope, even an empty hope, can change our lives for the better.
Perhaps, the next time I see my doctor, I should tell him, “Listen, just give me a prescription for the placebo. It’s cheaper and it’s almost as effective!”
Of course, the problem with this idea is that once we are aware that we are taking a placebo, it doesn't work! Right? The Placebo Effect requires a genuine belief. The medicine doesn't have to be genuine but the hope does. Without a sincere belief, there is no Placebo Effect.
This tells us that the Placebo Effect is really the Hope Effect. And if hope is powerful without anything behind it, think of how much more powerful it will be when the words of God are behind it!
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).