“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT2)
Jesus described the “spiritual vision” his disciples should have. Proper spiritual vision requires us to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from his point of view. “The eye is the lamp of the body” means that through the eyes the body receives light, allowing it to move. In the Old Testament, the “eye” denoted the direction of a person’s life. “Good” eyes focus on God. They are generous to others and convey the single focus of a true disciple. They receive and fill the body with God’s light so that it can serve him wholeheartedly. “Bad” eyes represent materialism, greed, and covetousness. Those with “bad” eyes may see the light, but they have allowed self-serving desires, interests, and goals to block their vision. Those with “bad eyes” think they have light; in reality, they are in spiritual darkness. This could mean a sort of “double vision”—trying to focus on God and earthly possessions. It will lead to gloom in life and darkness in eternity. How great is that darkness for those who see the light but are not focused on God. Materialism destroys the whole self. In these words, Jesus was calling his followers to undivided loyalty—eyes fixed and focused on him.
Earlier this year I had surgery on my eyes to remove cataracts that formed in my eyes over the years. It seems that my eyesight had gotten weaker and it happened so slowly that I didn’t notice it, except that my glasses were just getting stronger. Finally, cataract surgery was necessary. It is amazing what one can see when the eyesight is restored. I wonder if that could be happening to us in the spiritual sense. Have we become blind to our spiritual apathy, etc.? Has it happened so slowly that we do not recognize it? Perhaps we need for the “Great Physician” to restore our sight so that we can see ourselves as we really are. It may be amazing when we see ourselves like God sees us. What do you think? Can I get an amen?
