It had been a long couple of days. I was at least two weeks overdue with our second child. It was one week before Christmas (the baby was due December 3rd. It was now December 18th). Darryl and I were pioneering a church in Spirit Lake, Idaho, about 45 minutes away from the hospital in which I was scheduled to deliver. It was cold, foggy and snowy. My pains had begun off and on from Friday around noon. It was now 7:15 p.m. on Saturday. The resident doctor wandered in and out after deciding yes, I was in “early” labor as he put it—about 3 cm’s. I overheard the phone call to my OB, “Oh it will be at least 6 or 7 hours till she delivers”. I was trying to figure out how to cope with all the pain I was experiencing for another 6 or 7 hours when he casually walked back in asking, “How’s your eyes?”

All I could say, between pains, “How’s my eyes?” Pain. Breathe. “Why are you asking about my eyes?” He went on to tell me that they always do an up-to-date health evaluation and a change in normal vision could be an indication of serious problems. Obviously, my focus was not on my eyesight. I was dealing with the intense labor pains of transition, for our dear daughter Elizabeth was born at 8:22 p.m.! My eyesight was fine, and there were no complications to be overcome.

This story came back to me when God began to talk to me about the importance of healthy, clear emotional as well as spiritual vision. The need to be aware of how we perceive our God, our circumstances, others and ourselves is crucial.

God has so many things He desires us to see. Many of the Greek words translated into English as the word “see” communicate much more than simply possessing the ability to process information through our physical eyeballs. The depth of the word “see” contains the deeper concept that we should have the power of understanding, to be able to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover and understand something, somebody or some situation. We are not to walk around blind unable to see or understand. God wishes to give us the ability to truly “see”.

In John 11 we find Mourning Martha, full of grief and despair. Her brother Lazarus was dead. She knew she would “see” him again in heaven, but she had no hope she would “see” him again on earth. Jesus returns, standing in front of Lazarus’ tomb about ready to instruct others to take away the stone sealing the grave. Poor, practical Martha still doesn’t “see” it and interrupts with, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days”. Jesus says to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the Glory of God?” In spite of her blindness, she did get to experience an amazing miracle, as Lazarus came forth from that tomb.

God longs for us to see His glory. We live in a world fraught with so many seemingly dead things. But, are they really dead? Can love live again in a seemingly “dead” marriage? Can dead relationships come alive between parents and children? Do we believe that we will “see” the Glory of God in these areas?

Matthew 9 relates the story of two blind men who were so anxious to receive their sight they actually followed Jesus, crying out “Son of David, have mercy on us”. Do we have that kind of heart cry? To have such desperation to “see” His Glory and power revealed that we would ask for His mercy? God is stirring up a hunger in His people to see His Glory, to have it openly manifested so all can see. When these two blind men finally had Jesus attention—he asked them “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said, “Yes Lord!” And everyone saw that they saw.

How simple. Do you believe God is able to give you sight in any area where blindness has encroached? Mark 8 tells the story of a blind man from Bethsaida. His friends led him to Jesus. Jesus took the man by the hand and led him out of town, spit on the man’s eyes, laid hands on him and ask him “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Some of us may be like this man. We see better than totally blind people, but not as clearly as we should. This man continued to listen to Jesus, follow His commands and eventually received clear vision.

2 Peter 1:5 declares: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 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. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Becoming men and women who see clearly takes effort on our part. If we do not continue to add the above listed “virtues” we gradually lose our clear vision. Our brothers and sisters in Christ become “they and them” and “those people” rather than those for whom Christ’s blood was shed. We begin to function with doubt, unbelief and see no reason to exercise self control, because we become blind to the real purposes of life. Apathy and a “why bother” attitude can creep in.

If you find yourself not seeing clearly, go back to Him, looking up in faith and He will continue the process. God desires to give us perfect vision in our heart so we can see Him, others and our circumstances from His view point. So many of us are like Elisha’s servant who was fearful when he saw the city surrounded by their enemies. And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD ?opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of ?horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. They saw the Glory of God that day.

So my friends, I ask, “How are your eyes?” Are they opened to see Him in your job, your boss, and your children? Do you see Him at work in your finances, your ministry, in the depths of your personal issues? You can. Simply join your voice with all the other blind in heart praying: “Lord, we would receive our sight”.

Written by:Martha Rodman