“How can they not see it?”

Who has never heard that question asked before...or even asked it themselves at one time or another? It’s a question many wives have asked, or at least thought on multiple occasions when they ask their husband to get something out of a pantry or fridge...and they spend a much longer time searching for that item than needed. Then the wife miraculously retrieves the item which just appears out of nowhere on that front shelf clearly in sight. Go figure.

But what about when it comes to more serious matters that people seem ‘blinded’ to; and we scratch our heads in puzzlement, perplexed over the things people say or do as we wonder to ourselves ‘what were they thinking’? It’s been said we all have our own ‘blind spots’, do we not? And if you can’t see that you do...well...I rest my case. :- )

So let’s talk about ‘spiritual blindness’. Have you ever been reading in your Bible, nearly laboring to get through that chapter, which you have started over repeatedly due to a wandering mind...and then some verse just jumps out at you? And as it penetrates your soul and spirit...you find yourself asking...”How have I never seen that one before?” I’m thinking some of you who read here regularly have experienced that a lot these days.

Last weekend, my wife and I took a short trip up to Seattle and caught the local rail transit to the airport. There were some designated seats on the railway which had a sign over them (image inset I used today) indicating who those seats were reserved for- people with ‘disabilities’. What caught my eye was the icon depicting a pregnant woman and it made me curious if pregnant women were considered to be... ‘disabled’. It was more of an amusing observation on my part. But the first icon depicts a blind person with a cane in hand. It then dawned on me how infrequent it is that I even see a blind person getting around these days, using their white cane with red tip in hand. I think I’ve seen one person like that since moving out here nearly two years ago.

Then, while getting ready to board our plane, I saw a woman pre-board...who just happened to be blind, carrying her white cane; then noticing her again already seated when I got on the plane to secure my own seat. And that got me to thinking. Society teaches/encourages us to defer to blind people, to make way for them; not out of pity...but simple courtesy. I mean really...who would approve of people harassing or making fun of anyone with a ‘disability’ let alone a blind person who clearly....is unable to see the space right in front of them? Would you laugh at someone like that who walked into a wall, or tripped over a curb? Of course not. And yet...how often do we ‘believers’...do that with people who are...’spiritually blind’? [long dramatic pause here]

What is the true mark of a follower of Jesus? They ‘love others as He first loved us’ (John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:6). And what was the response of Jesus directed at those who mocked Him and nailed Him to a cross? – “Father...forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Why do you suppose they did ‘not know’ what they were doing? Probably for the same reason anyone in this world does, acts, or walks like anyone who is not a follower of Jesus. Perhaps revisiting some Bible passages will help us all to better understand what we are dealing with today in this world...and why we should extend more grace to those who are ‘spiritually disabled/blinded’.

“We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19 NLT). And how does he do this?...

Satan...who is "the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” (2 Cor. 4:3-4)

And the reason Jesus sent Paul to preach this gospel to the Gentiles? – “to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people...” (Acts 26:18)

Go read Isaiah 60:1-2, and how he describes the condition of the world being in ‘deep darkness’, and those whom God’s glory has fallen upon are called to ‘arise and shine...’. Does Jesus not tell us we are ‘the light of the world...and to let it shine’, in Matt. 5:14-16? Ever wonder how we actually ‘do that’...’let that light shine? How about reading what John has to say about that-

“Walk in the light as He is in the light.” (1 John 1:7)...you know...’walk as He walked’ which is what those who abide in Him...do. (1 John 2:6)

Jesus admonishes us to ‘walk while we have light...lest the darkness overtake you.’ (John 12:35-36). Sounds as if that is a possibility, does it not to you...that we can be overtaken by darkness? And the end goal here...is for us to ‘become sons/children of light.”

Paul reminds us that we “were once in darkness but now you are light in the Lord...walk as children of light...bearing the fruit of the Spirit...” (Eph. 5:8-9)

So why should we extend grace and mercy to those who are blinded? Well, Jesus again...said that ‘those who walk in darkness don’t know where they are going.” (John 12:35)

Let’s also keep in mind what Jesus declared in John 3:19-21. We are reminded that He did not come to condemn anyone...(John 3:18)...but that He came as a ‘light into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (He’s not giving them a pass here, either...just stating the facts). He goes on...”everyone who practices evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed”.

We can explore this further, tomorrow...Lord willing; but one final thought to chew on here- Much of the spiritual blindness that Jesus was repeatedly pointing out...existed among those who claimed to be the experts in the word/law. And they were rebuked sternly by Jesus (Matt. 23). But for those who do ‘come around’...and truly begin to ‘see the light’ and have their ‘eyes opened’...don’t be surprised if the others around you in your church circles...don’t share in the same excitement and awe that you are experiencing. It may even get you kicked out of church! (John 9:30-34)