Blurred vision v23n24

Blurred vision?

V23 n24

If a person has blurred or double vision, how confident can they be of the way or direction that they are traveling? For the last few weeks we have been talking about things that can impair or hinder one’s spiritual vision or sight. That is, those things that hinder or prevent a person from walking by faith. One must train themselves to walk in agreement with the message delivered by the Word of God, Christ; and not by the leading or senses of the carnal man.

The carnal or natural man is not able to receive or discern those things which pertain to the Spirit of God. To the natural man, things pertaining to the spiritual realm, are to him foolishness. What is it that causes people to become like this? Paul tells us in his first epistle to the Corinthians, that envy, division and strife are those things that will cause a person to have blurred or impaired vision, concerning the things of God.

1Cor 3:1 And as for myself, brethren, I found it impossible to speak to you as spiritual men. It had to be as to worldlings--mere babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food, since for this you were not yet strong enough. And even now you are not strong enough: 3 you are still unspiritual. For so long as jealousy and strife continue among you, can it be denied that you are unspiritual and are living and acting like mere men of the world? (Weymouth translation)

1Cor 3:1 But I could not discuss things with you, my brothers, as spiritual persons; I had to address you as worldlings, as mere babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with solid food. You were not able for solid food, and you are not able even now; you are still worldly. For with jealousy and quarrels in your midst, are you not worldly, are you not behaving like ordinary men? (Moffatt translation)

It is the glory of God, and ought to be ours, not to be acceptable to carnal men. The natural man always finds some pretence to excuse himself from believing, by looking on the mysteries of religion as being either too much above man or too much below God; the spiritual man judges them to be so much the more credible, the less credible they are to the natural man.

The opposition, contempt, and blindness of the world, with regard to the things of God, render all its judgments concerning them liable to exception: this blindness in spiritual things is the just punishment of a carnal life. The principal part of the above is extracted from the reflections of the pious Quesnel.

[But as unto carnal] Sarkikois (grk 4559) or sarkinois (grk 4560), Persons under the influence of fleshly appetites; coveting and living for the things of this life.

[Babes in Christ.] Just beginning to acquire some notion of the Christian religion, but as yet very incapable of judging what is most suitable to yourselves, and consequently utterly unqualified to discern between one teacher and another; so that your making the distinctions which you do make, so far from being a proof of mature judgment, is on the contrary a proof that you have no right judgment at all; and this springs from your want of knowledge in divine things. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

[I have fed you with milk] I have instructed you in the elements of Christianity-- in its simplest and easiest truths; because from the low state of your minds in religious knowledge, you were incapable of comprehending the higher truths of the Gospel: and in this state you will still continue. The apostle thus exposes to them the absurdity of their conduct in pretending to judge between preacher and preacher, while they had but a very partial acquaintance even with the first principles of Christianity.

[There is among you envying, and strife, and divisions] Zeelos (grk 2205) kai (grk 2532) eris (grk 2054) kai (grk 2532) dichostasiai (grk 1370). There are three things here worthy of note: these people were wrong in thought, word, and deed. Zeelos (grk 2205), envying, refers to the state of their souls; they had inward grudgings and disaffection toward each other. Eris (grk 2054), strife or contention, refers to their words; they were continually disputing and contending whose party was the best, each endeavouring to prove that he and his party were alone in the right. Dichostasiai (grk 1370) divisions, refers to their conduct; as they could not agree, they contended until they separated from each other, and thus rent the church of Christ. Thus the envying and grudging led to strife and evil SPEAKING, and this led to divisions and fixed parties. In this state well might the apostle say, Are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Ye act just as the people of the world, and have no more of the spirit of religion than they.(from Adam Clarke Commentary)

One seldom gives much thought to what things blind the mind, will also cloud or blur one’s vision. The Bible tells us quite clearly, that as a man thinks within his heart, so he will be. So what is it that occupies one’s thoughts, and controls one’s mind? It is only by continuing in the Word, that one’s is able to be set free; and then, one must continue in it to maintain that liberty that only comes by and through Christ.

Rom 8:5 For if men are controlled by their earthly natures, they give their minds to earthly things. If they are controlled by their spiritual natures, they give their minds to spiritual things. 6 Because for the mind to be given up to earthly things means death; but for it to be given up to spiritual things means Life and peace. 7 Abandonment to earthly things is a state of enmity to God. Such a mind does not submit to God's Law, and indeed cannot do so. 8 And those whose hearts are absorbed in earthly things cannot please God. (Weymouth translation)

Christ has answered the demands of the law for us, but will never fulfil the conditions of the gospel for us. We must repent ourselves, obey ourselves, or Christ's obedience will profit us nothing; none can safely or comfortably pretend to an interest in Christ's obedience, either active or passive, but only such who in their course are actuated and influenced by the spirit, and not by the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. (Wm. Burkitt’s notes)

Observe here, 1. A difference of persons mentioned. Those that are after the flesh, and them that are after the Spirit.

2. A difference of properties belonging to these persons; the one minds the things of the flesh, the other the things of the Spirit. They mind them; that is, they relish and savour them, they lay out their thoughts about them, and let out their endeavours after them.

Learn hence, 1. That there are but two sorts of men in the world; some after the flesh, and some after the Spirit.

2. That these two different sorts of men have two different objects, which they savour and relish; namely, the things of the flesh, and the things of the Spirit.

3. That all men discover the true temper of their minds, and the complexion and disposition of their souls, by the respect which they give to either of these objects, by minding the things of the flesh, and the things of the Spirit; that is, by minding them willingly and cheerfully, resolvedly and constantly. (Wm. Burkitt’s notes)

Matt 6:21 For where your wealth is, there also will your heart be. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted; 23 but if your eyesight is bad, your whole body will be dark. If however the very light within you is darkness, how dense must the darkness be! 24 "No man can be the bondservant of two masters; for either he will dislike one and like the other, or he will attach himself to one and think slightingly of the other. You cannot be the bondservants both of God and of gold. (Weymouth translation)

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. KJV

[Where your treasure is] If God be the treasure of our souls, our hearts, i. e. our affections and desires will be placed on things above. An earthly minded man proves that his treasure is below; a heavenly minded man shows that his treasure is above. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

[No man can serve two masters] The master of our heart may be fitly termed the love that reigns in it. We serve that only which we love supremely. A man cannot be in perfect indifference betwixt two objects which are incompatible: he is inclined to despise and hate whatever he does not love supremely, when the necessity of a choice presents itself. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

How clear is your vision, of that which you seek this day? The kingdom of God and His righteousness should be your chief aim this day!

That you may know Him,

In the service of Jesus Christ

Larry Gazelka