I Once Could See, But Now I'm Blind

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:4

I am a pretty serious character. Oh I enjoy a good laugh, but it is not often that I have a witty come back for a given situation. However, last week’s “A Grazing Mace” offered a rare opportunity, and inspired this week’s title. I also suppose that if we could re-write this week’s passage, we might say that “the god of this age has blinded the minds of believers and unbelievers alike.” 

See from the beginning of time and throughout history mankind has been blinded by the world. Adam and Eve were made perfect and lived in a perfect place having perfect fellowship with the Creator himself - until that pesky serpent convinced Eve that she was blind and that disobeying God would allow her and Adam to really “see”. The reality was they had already been able to see what was really real and eating the forbidden fruit blinded them to that forever. 

John, writing to the church in Laodicea reveals the blindness of the people “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

Saul, who would eventually become Paul, suffered from extreme soul blindness. Saul was blinded by his religious traditions, his education, his prejudices and he was further blinded by fear and hate. It took being literally blinded by a close encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road to really open his eyes to the truth of God and life changing grace and faith. 

In response to the interrogation of the religious leaders of the day a blind man whom Jesus had healed said: “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see” (John 9:25)! In Psalm 146 we read “the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous” (v. 8). 

What’s blinding you today to what is really real? Is it fear or prejudice? Is it the world’s idea of money, power and fame? Maybe you are being blinded by one of life’s many storms or the blows of this world’s grazing mace. The Scriptures reveal that the Lord, who is Christ Jesus, is the only one who can restore our sight, so that we see His glory and walk in His amazing grace.

His grace allows us to have faith and to have the blinded eyes of our souls opened to what’s really real. 

A Prayer
Father - thank you for the healing power of Your amazing grace. Open the eyes of our hearts Lord that we might see what You see - that we will see what is really real and be changed. Thank you that hearts that can see Your grace can walk in this world fearlessly and filled with love In the name Jesus, who makes the blind to see, we pray - Amen.