Recently, I had my vision checked, and the result was new glasses. When I went to pick them up, I put them on, and they didn’t seem right. Everything was blurry, no matter where I looked. I told the guy at the counter that they didn’t seem right. He was dismissive and said to contact my eye doctor. I opted to keep the glasses and give my eyes a few days to adjust.
After a week, I returned to where I got the glasses and asked to have them adjusted. This time, there was a woman who helped me. She asked me several questions about where the vision was blurry. Then, she took my glasses and made several adjustments to the frames. When she finished and gave the glasses back to me, suddenly, everything was clear. There was nothing wrong with the lenses or the prescription from my eye doctor. The problem was the frames I was looking through.
This illustration applies to our spiritual eyesight as well. Sometimes, our vision is blurry or unclear, and we don’t know if it is the lenses we’re looking at the situation through or our framework that needs to be adjusted. Nonetheless, something isn’t right. It’s at times like this that we need to slow down spiritually and check our vision with Jesus.
Jesus patiently waits for us to come to Him for a vision check. When He reveals what is off in our perspective, it’s on us to allow the correction. But when we do, our vision is suddenly clear and we can see what’s in front of us to do.
In Acts chapter nine, we read the account of Saul, who was persecuting the Church of Jesus. While on the road from one town to the next, he has an encounter with Jesus, who calls him out on what he is doing to Him. Saul was knocked to the ground from his (high) horse. Jesus speaks to him, and all who were with Saul heard the voice but saw nothing. When Saul got up from the ground, the account says that though his eyes were open, he could not see anything.
Saul remained blind for several days, but the result was a complete transformation in his spiritual vision. Suddenly, he could see clearly what he had been doing and now could see what was in front of him to do. The transformation was so incredible that Jesus changed his name to Paul, who went on to write a great deal of the New Testament.
I suggest slowing down and checking in with Jesus about our vision. Sometimes, it’s clear but completely contrary to what He has for us, and others, it’s blurry and unclear. But Jesus is our Great Physician, and we can trust HIs leadership!
Oh Lord, as I come into a new year, give me a clear vision of You. Show me how You want me to serve You.