Signora Sheila

It crept up quietly, little by little. That’s how some things happen. And we don’t realize it until it’s too late (or almost). Like with my eyesight. I was convinced that I could see. But the truth is, I was going blind.

Our eyes are pretty amazing. Each eye is made up of over 2 million working parts and connected by over 1 million nerve fibers. 80% of what we learn and 80% of our memories are determined by what we see. And 80% of vision problems worldwide are preventable or correctable.

And with healthy eyes, we see well. Or, like me, we think we do. Which is why we need regular eye exams.

Spiritual vision checkup

And we need frequent spiritual vision checks too.

We were out with friends, when she noticed that I couldn’t read some huge letters on a building. To which I casually replied, “Oh that’s normal.” But she mentioned, with a quizzical look, that I might need new glasses.

It was then that I realized how little I could see. Like a little old lady, I could only see things clearly by examining them closely. And it had happened so gradually that not seeing had become normal to me.

So I went for an exam. And you guessed it, I was diagnosed with cataracts that were causing advanced myopia. (7.5 in my left eye.) Only then did I realize just how bad it had gotten. Which got me to thinking.

What about our spiritual vision?

Is it really as healthy as we think it is?

Let’s find out with this vision test!

1. How is our vision of the invisible

How well do we see the unseen? There is much that we can’t see with our natural eyes, and God calls us to focus on these things. Remember that just as good eyeglasses help our physical sight, prayer and Bible reading are great aids to helping us see the unseen, focus on it, and live for the unseen.

“As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18

2. Do we walk by faith or by sight?

We’re not to walk by sight but by faith, keeping our eyes on Christ’s kingdom. We’re to build our lives around that which has eternal significance. Lives of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment, instead of chasing after things that will not last and can never fulfill our deepest longings.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

3. Do we really see God?

Do we really see how great and mighty He is? Or do we allow our times of fear, doubt, or pain to make God seem small, ineffectvie, and incapable? A healthy spiritual vision helps us remember that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The eternal and unchanging Creator of the universe, all-knowing, and all-powerful!

“He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” – 2 Kings 6:16-17

4. Where is our focus?

Do we remember that He always has His watchful on eye on us, ready to help us focus on the right things? To help see that He works for good in all things, and helping us to focus on everything that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and of good report?

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3

5. Do we see His Word as a treasure?

Good spiritual vision sees and appreciates God’s Word as the treasure that it truly is. If we don’t see how precious it is, let’s ask Him to open our eyes that we may see it!

“Open my eyes that I may behold wonderous things out of your law.” – Psalm 119:18

6. Do we see what God sees?

God sees us and others as we are, not as we appear. He looks beyond the outward appearance and sees right into the heart. And so He alone can truly adjust our spiritual vision so that we can see His kingdom and live for it.

“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

The Lord corrects our vision

I couldn’t see, but was convinced I could. Bad vision crept up on me slowly, little by little. And I’ve come to realize that sometimes bad spiritual vision does the same thing. It doesn’t happen all at once, but slowly over time. We start to live mostly for the things of this world. We let worries and problems cloud the greatness of God. And we lose sight of the fact that God’s eyes are always on us, watching over us.

As I wait to be called for surgery, I’m grateful that my vision problems can be corrected. But I’m even more thankful that our spiritual vision can also be corrected. All we have to do is go to the Lord and ask Him to open our blind eyes. To help us see Him and all things as they really are.

How is your Spiritual vision?

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:2

📷 Image credits: glasses; eye exam