I was working on my doctorate doing much more study and
reading than normal when I noticed the words were more blurred than
normal. I tried the universal method to
improve one’s vision, squinting, and still the words on the page were not
clear. My eye doctor told me that when
most men reach their mid-forties, my age at that time; their eyes need more
time to focus. I told him, “I can’t wait that long I need to read this
stuff before sundown and it ain’t happening.” Forgive the grammar but remember I had not
completed my doctoral work at the time. He suggested cheap reading glasses
initially because I was “still in the 20/20 range.” Being in the range for 20/20 vision is never
as good and having perfect 20/20 vision.
It’s important to see clearly but clear Spiritual vision is more
essential. Spiritual vision guides your
life now and eternally. I use a capital
S as I refer to vision led by the Holy Spirit rather than any other spirit,
feeling or intuition.
Proverbs 29:18; “Where there is no vision, the people
perish” is often quoted, and also misinterpreted, by those seeking to
promote personal plans and agenda. The
verse is not about a big idea from an individual. The “vision” in this verse refers to a divine
communication, a revelation from God.
“Perish” comes from the Hebrew word, paw-rah', the word used where a
woman's hair was let to flow out of its covering (hairband). Unconstrained in the wind her hair is out of
control and blown in all directions. The
proverb is asserting the truth that without a divine communication (revelation
from God), a person’s life can be influenced to go in all sorts of
directions. The results may not always
be positive.
Correcting and restoring 20/20 vision can be done with
corrective lenses. I am using them as I
write this. Gaining and maintaining
perfect Spiritual vision is a different matter.
Writing and reading without my corrective lenses can be embarrassing. I make many grammatical mistakes and typos
when writing without my glasses. My
spelling mistakes, however, come from being creative. I have always relied on the fact that “anyone who spells the same word the same
way all the time has no imagination!”
However, faulty vision not funny and can be dangerous. I wonder why directions on medicine bottles use
such tiny print. It seems smaller as I
age. Does it say to take 1 every 4 hours
or 4 every 8 hours?
Incorrect Spiritual decision can be even more
dangerous. Your quality of life now and
for eternity depends on clearly seeing and following God’s vision for your
life. Living without a clear vision can
lead to a life ‘like a woman’s hair
unconstrained directionless and blown in all directions’. A good friend recently told me that she was
utilizing the year 2020 to seek a clear vision concerning what God wanted for
her at this time in her life. She smiled
and said, “2020 is the year for perfect vision!”
I thought, “What a great
way to look at the year 2020, not just as a new calendar year but as a time to
seek a clear 20/20 Spiritual vision from God!”
There have been times in my life when God seemed to be
directing me as clearly as the GPS map on my phone. Then there are times when I go off in the
wrong direction not paying attention to the voice and map on my phone. I wondered why so many people in Niagara Falls
Park were staring at me with dirty looks as I was driving the only car on the
bridge until I saw the Pedestrians
Only sign. In my excitement I
had ignored the correct guidance of my GPS and had driven my car onto the
walking path. Oops!
It is easy to become distracted and not pay attention to
God’s voice or directions. Life is more
like traveling by airplane than a journey by train. Once you board the train you simply sit back
and enjoy the trip as the train follows the tracks to the next
destination. Traveling by airplane is different. After the airplane takes off several things
can affect the original flight plan. A
storm or other unexpected events can require adjustments leading to an
alternate time of arrival or even a different destination. Life’s journey is similar. A plan is valuable but what’s happening right now
will affect when, where, how or if I arrive.
Daily vision and adjustments are as important as long-range vision. Both should come from God.
So how does one seek perfect Spiritual vision, divine
communication? King Solomon asked God for
an “understanding heart” to make good judgments and discern between right and
wrong (1 Kings 3:9). Jesus also spoke of
the importance of the heart for Spiritual vision in the beginning of the Sermon
on the Mount proclaiming, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
will see God.” (Matthew 5:8). God’s
Spiritual anatomy connects the eyes with the heart. A heart harboring anger, envy, lust, greed,
selfishness, etc. will lead to a direction far from God’s perfect vision for
one’s life. A good prescription for
20/20 Spiritual vision is found in Galatians 5:22 &23 known as the Fruit of
the Spirit. Fruit is the natural growth
from a healthy plant. A healthy and pure
Spiritual heart is filled with thoughts that are loving, happy, peaceful,
patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.” So a pure
heart that is essential to ‘see’ God’s perfect vision for our lives begins with
an honest examination confessing anything that does not naturally follow and
develop Spiritual fruit.
Going back to the conversation with my eye doctor in my
mid-forties, I followed his advice and got reading glasses and finished the
work so I AM a Doctor!
Therefore, I offer the following prescription to make 2020 our year of
perfect Spiritual vision; start today and continue daily with a healthy and
honest Spiritual self-examination.
Submit to a daily visit with the Great Physician following His
prescription found in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and
know my anxious thoughts. See if there
is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” As we daily confess, repent and receive His
cleansing to have a pure heart we will be amazed how our Spiritual vision
improves allowing us to more clearly see His perfect vision for our
lives. I look forward to seeing what He
has in store for 2020, The Year for
Perfect Vision!
