This might be considered part two for Warning Signs.
I realized last summer my glasses weren’t working as well as when I first got them. Especially in my left eye. When my parents asked what I wanted for my birthday, I asked for new glasses.
This time, instead of going to Walmart, I went to my Mamaw’s eye doctor. I liked how he worked with her, plus they had frames that I LOVED.
I picked out cheap frames the first time at Walmart, because I wasn’t sure how well the glasses would work, how well I’d like them, and if I could handle wearing them for long periods. (I have weird sensitivities on parts of my body and one of those is the bridge of my nose. It gets so sensitive sometimes that the discomfort is almost painful.) I thought I was getting them for driving only but it turns out I need them all the time.
In a similar way, I realized God was real, and I needed to be saved. I tested out this Gospel to see if it would work out for me. I thought believing what Jesus did was enough and didn’t really pursue Him after that as I should. I pursued knowledge mostly. I would put on my “spiritual glasses” to gain knowledge or pray (when things got hard) but then take them back off when things went smoothly. Just like I would wear the glasses when I would start getting a headache and then take them off when my eyes felt better.
But I needed them all the time.
Eventually, I learned to live with the slight discomfort of wearing glasses. But since when should the Gospel make me feel comfortable? Accepted? I didn’t really think much of it.
Then this year, just like my real glasses, I realized my spiritual glasses were distorted and blurred. I only thought I was seeing clearly. I do realize that my glasses didn’t change, my eyes did. But the glasses were cheaper frames and I could look over them. Sometimes I wouldn’t use the glasses even though they were on my face.
Finally, I had to accept that these glasses weren’t for me.
Upon realizing the spiritual glasses needed to be changed, I let Him give me His glasses. Then I started seeing things more clearly. I started seeing lies more clearly. When God gives the Holy Spirit’s vision instead of man’s cheap glasses, it is as if a veil lifts.
“The people (including many professing Christians and pastors of churches) who are buying into this emergent (paradigm shift) movement are wearing what I will term here “spiritual sunglasses,” which block their eyes (perception, judgment, discernment) from seeing the Light (Christ, truth, righteousness, holiness), i.e. they are spiritually blinded by Satan to the deceptions and manipulations of truth which they are accepting as truth.” – Sue
Just like I needed glasses because I couldn’t see well, so the spirit needs a new lens for seeing things as they truly are. Seeing sin for what it is. Seeing the Gospel. Some have blindfolds over their eyes and refuse to see it at all, being blinded by the Light.
Some have been blinded by a false Gospel (or a real Gospel) and refuse to look at any light to save their eyes from the discomfort and pain of giving up this world. Before glasses, I was light-sensitive. After glasses, I was less light sensitive. Now I can walk outside in the sunlight and I’m not usually that light-sensitive anymore. Same with spiritual glasses. The Holy Spirit revealed the Light and the beauty. It doesn’t hurt anymore. And now the Light is free to expose darkness and sin in my life.
And others put on spiritual glasses and think they see clearly, but they actually distort the gospel. It may look like they put on spiritual glasses, but instead of correcting vision, they got Satan’s deceiving prescription instead of God’s holy prescription. Things that are sinful look pure.
My new prescription makes my vision so much clearer. The new glasses are a bit heavier and not so “fluffy”, so I’m aware they are on my face all the time from the discomfort. But I’ll take the discomfort and nudgings of the Holy Spirit over headaches and distorted seeing any day. ❤
Following Him Beside Still Waters 