Psalm 139: 1- 4; 23 & 24; 2Chron 16: 10; Rev 3: 17 & 18
Any measure of blindness causes tremendous damage. A week ago a
tragic event happened when an ex-Springbok rugby player heard a noise outside – it
was late at night and he couldn’t see properly – and fired a single shot
thinking it was a thief trying to steal his car. It was his 19-year-old daughter taking
the car to visit a friend. That single shot killed her. This awful tragedy was the result
of not seeing properly.
Any car driver knows the danger of not seeing things properly.
That "blind spot" as he changes lane can be extremely dangerous.
David praises God in this 139th Psalm that God sees
everything. In the last two verses David acknowledges that he may have a "blind
spot" about his own heart and he pleads with God to search and try his heart "to
see if there is any wicked way" in him. If David could see so much about the Lord and
his own heart and still pleads with God to show him his heart, how much more we!
We will speak about blindness of the heart towards God, our
neighbour and ourselves, (usually the three process happen simultaneously) and lastly,
God’s cure.
Blindness towards God
- In Gen 3: 1-5 we find Eve in conversation with the serpent.
Satan was trying to distort God’s image and make Him appear a "spoilsport"
in her eyes. The real reason why God doesn’t want you to eat this fruit is that He is
afraid that you’ll climb the ladder and become as powerful as He is – was the
jist of the devil’s slur campaign. Her vision had been clear, she and Adam could
enjoy the close fellowship of God but now she began to "see" things differently.
Her eyes were opened to see the fruit as "good and pleasurable."
This was the beginning of our blindness towards God and the devil
has been in this business ever since.
- In 2Chron 16:10 we find the godly Asa losing his sight towards
God and others as he neared the end of His life. He rejected God’s prophet, Hanani,
and, in his blindness, had him imprisoned and began to oppress the people of God.
- In Acts we read of various people who had blind hearts towards
towards God: Ananias, Saphira, and Simon (8: 18). A blurred image of God automatically
distorts our perception of those around us.
Blindness towards others
Sin causes immediate blindness towards God and others. Bitterness
and grudges are the natural consequence. Perceived wrongs and the belief that
"I’m the victim" is the language of the blinded.
Blindness towards yourself
All three of these process happen simultaneously. One’s own
state, as a result of sin’s blindness, is completely wrong. The church of Laodicea
were confident about the own spirituality and sight. After all, they were from the city
with the reputation for eye salve. Christ said (Rev 3:17). The Lord berated them for their
blindness.
Saul of Tarsus had a very good self-image until Christ showed him
his blindness by literally blinding him.
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were blinded to the
resurrected Jesus even while they walked with Him and He was explaining the Scriptures to
them.
God’s cure for blindness
In Saul’s case he sent a man (also called Ananias) to
minister to the blinded Saul in a street called Straight. Christ used part of His body to
be help Saul so that the "scales fell from his eyes".
In Laodicia the Lord said to them: "I counsel you … to
come to me for eye salve" so that they could see. In a way it was an offer which
implied: the eye salve in your city is not good enough – come to me for proper
medicine."
When the Emmaus disciples pressed Jesus to come and dine with them
(even when He made as if He didn’t want to go further with them) he came into their
home and as He prayed while breaking bread, their eyes were opened to see Jesus. You also,
ask Him to come into your home and life and let Him open your eyes as He dines with you.
With the Laodicians, Christ went even further, (in verse 18) and
said that He wants to come into their door and "sup" with them.
