Impaired vision v23n23

Impaired vision!

V23 n23

Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no vision (revelation), the people perish: KJV

Where divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land is at no great distance. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

Unless a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, they can not see nor enter the kingdom of God. These are the words that Jesus Christ spoke to Nicodemus, who was a spiritual leader of Israel. If one cannot see the kingdom of God, how can they know where to enter? How can they show anyone else the way, if they themselves do not know, and cannot see?

What is it that hinders people from seeing? As we saw last week, the lusts and desires of the flesh can certainly hinder us, as they cause one to act and react to the wants and cravings of the flesh. Yet, where do these cravings or desires start? Where is it that one loses their focus to get to this place?

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. KJV

Let’s look at a few of Burkitt’s commentary concerning these verses.

As if he had said, We preach the gospel plainly; but if men do not understand and believe it, will not embrace and obey it, it is not an argument of the gospel's obscurity, but of our hearers' incredulity. The gospel is not hid from men for want of clearness, but only by means of their own voluntary and willful blindness:

The heavy doom and judgment which the apostle passes upon all such persons as sit under the external dispensation of the gospel, and yet are no ways enlightened nor improved by it, but remain blind and ignorant, obstinate and unreformed. It is a sad symptom and foreboding sign of a lost people.

Learn hence, 1. That there are many, very many, who sit under the external dispensation of the gospel, unto whom the gospel is an hidden gospel.

Learn, 2. That the gospel's being hid from a people who have long enjoyed the light and benefit of it, is a sad symptom, yea, a certain sign, of a lost people. Such blindness, under the clearest light, is like the covering of the face, or tying the handkerchief over the eyes, in order to the turning off the obstinate sinner into eternal hell.

The way and course which Satan takes to secure his subject's obedience to himself: he blinds their eyes: that they may never know a better prince, see a better way, or understand a better state, than he hath drawn them into. Satan blinds the understandings of men by the efficacy of divers lusts, which are bred and nourished in their hearts. Now the streamings of sensusal lusts from a corrupt heart do blind the understanding, and beset the judgment; that the sinner can neither see nor know the excellency of spiritual objects.

Lord! how many live under the light of the gospel, that never had heart to receive it, or will to obey it! How great a part of the Christianized world do reject Christ; though called by his name, yet will not own his authority, or submit to his government!

The nobles of the world think themselves dishonoured by submitting their necks to Christ's yoke; the sensualists of the world will not lay down a lust for him, that laid down his life for them; the worldlings of the earth prefer their dirt and dunghill before the pearl of great price. O, how few amongst them that profess Christianity, do love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity! (Burkitt’s notes)

Now let’s look at a few of Barnes notes on these same verses.

It is hid among them, who are about to perish; who are perishing, those who deserve to perish. It is concealed only among that class who may be designated as the perishing, or as the lost. Grotius explains this, "those who deserve to perish, who foster their vices, and will not see the truth which condemns those vices." And he adds, that this might very well be; for, "however conspicuous the gospel was in itself, yet like the sun it would not be visible to the blind." The cause was not in the gospel, but in themselves. This verse teaches, therefore,

(1.) that the beauty of the gospel may be hidden from many of the human family. This is a matter of simple fact. There are thousands and millions to whom it is preached who see no beauty in it, and who regard it as foolishness.

(2.) That there is a class of men who may be called, even now, the lost. They are lost to virtue, to piety, to happiness, to hope. They deserve to perish; and they are hastening to merited ruin. This class in the time of Paul was large; and it is large now. It is composed of those to whom the gospel is hidden, or to whom it appears to be vailed, and who see no beauty in it. It is made up indeed of all the profane, polluted, and vile; but their characteristic feature is, that the gospel is hidden from them, and that they see no beauty and glory in it.

(3.) This is not the fault of the gospel. It is not the fault of the sun where men shut their eyes and will not see it. It is not the fault of a running stream, or a bubbling fountain, if men will not drink of it, but rather choose to die of thirst. The gospel does not obscure and conceal its own glory any more than the sun does. It is in itself a clear and full revelation of God and his grace; and that glory is adapted to shed light upon the benighted minds of men. (Barnes notes)

Even when it comes to our minds being blinded, people want to blame someone else for their own ignorance. (How often do you hear people say that the devil made them do it!) The devil can no more force them to sin, then it can be for God to force someone to be saved. It is this thing called free will, or choice, that each of us have to make each day that we are here, as we continue our journey home.

Luke 6:39, And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? (KJV)

Our Saviour doubtless applied these words to the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders, doctors, and teachers, who being ignorant of the spiritual sense of the law, (interpreting it only to the restraining of the outward man,) were very unfit to instruct and lead others; for where one blind man leads another, both are in danger of the ditch; that is to run into ruin and destruction.

Learn, 1. That ignorant, erroneous, or unfaithful ministers, are the greatest plague, and sorest punishment, that can befall a people.

2. That Christ having forewarned us of such guides, to follow them will be an inexcusable sin and folly, and never free us from the danger of destruction, but rather be an aggravation of our condemnation: If the blind follow the blind, both will, inevitably yet inexcusably, fall into the ditch. (Burkitt’s notes)

In every human heart there is a measure of hostility to holiness, and, consequently to the Author of it. People seldom suspect this; for one property of sin is to blind the understanding, so that men do not know their own state. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

Being double-minded, will cause one to have double vision. And, since there are but two choices that a person can make; life or death, good or evil, faith or fear, how can one know which path to choose or navigate? How can one know which direction to choose, if they are constantly wavering, and undecided in that which they should do, or where they should go?

There are but two paths from which a person may choose. The wide and broad path, or the strait and narrow path.

Matt 7:13-14, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (KJV)

Let’s look at a few of Matthew Henry’s comments concerning this choice of paths.

That which allures multitudes into it, and keeps them in it; the gate is wide, and the way broad, and there are many travelers in that way. First, "You will have abundance of liberty in that way; the gate is wide, and stands wide open to tempt those that go right on their way. You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to your appetites, to your passions: you may walk in the way of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; that gives room enough." It is a broad way, for there is nothing to hedge in those that walk in it, but they wander endlessly; a broad way, for there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways, contrary to each other, but all paths in this broad way. Secondly, "You will have abundance of company in that way: many there be that go in at this gate, and walk in this way." If we follow the multitude, it will be to do evil: if we go with the crowd, it will be the wrong way. It is natural for us to incline to go down the stream, and do as the most do; but it is too great a compliment, to be willing to be damned for company, and to go to hell with them, because they will not go to heaven with us: if many perish, we should be the more cautious.

First, That the gate is strait. Conversion and regeneration are the gate, by which we enter into this way, in which we begin a life of faith and serious godliness; out of a state of sin into a state of grace we must pass, by the new birth, <Jn. 3:3,5>. This is a strait gate, hard to find, and hard to get through; like a passage between two rocks, <1 Sam. 14:4>. There must be a new heart, and a new spirit, and old things must pass away. <2Cor 5:16-17> The bent of the soul must be changed, corrupt habits and customs broken off; what we have been doing all our days must be undone again. We must swim against the stream; much opposition must be struggled with, and broken through, from without, and from within. It is easier to set a man against all the world than against himself, and yet this must be in conversion. It is a strait gate, for we must stoop, or we cannot go in at it; we must become as little children; high thoughts must be brought down; nay, we must strip, must deny ourselves, put off the world, put off the old man; we must be willing to forsake all for our interest in Christ.

The gate being so strait and the way so narrow, it is not strange that there are but few that find it, and choose it. Many pass it by, through carelessness; they will not be at the pains to find it; they are well as they are, and see no need to change their way. Others look upon it, but shun it; they like not to be so limited and restrained. Those that are going to heaven are but few, compared to those that are going to hell; a remnant, a little flock, like the grape-gleanings of the vintage; as the eight that were saved in the ark. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

Impaired vision will keep one from finding the proper path to follow. Jesus Christ said that He is the way, established by the truth of God’s Word, that will lead one to eternal life. Which path is it that you will envision to travel down this day?

That you may know Him,

In the service of Jesus Christ.

Larry Gazelka