When I was young I had a crossed eye which seriously affected my vision. I wore an eye patch on my right eye to straighten and strengthen the left eye. It straightened the eye to the point of looking normal so I no longer was like Clarence the cross eyed lion; but the vision never was restored to the left eye.

The eye patch I wore was a black cloth patch that tied around my head, like a real pirate patch! Of course wearing such a patch to school became a cause of ridicule and teasing. Besides being teased, wearing the patch was frustrating because I was forced to see, read and write with one, not so “good” eye. I confess I cheated, often. I would lift up the corner of the patch with the tip of my pencil or fingers and read with the good eye.

Since I have been diagnosed with macular degeneration in both eyes, I have become more focused on saving what sight remains. I have been studying about the eyes and sight in the Bible.

In a previous blog I wrote about having “My Father’s Eyes,” which involves learning to see people and circumstance with the eyes of God, not my worldly eyes. The scriptures have much more to say about our “spiritual eyesight.”

What You See Is What You ARE!
The Bible has much to say about how we see things. Luke 11:34-35 states, “Your eye is the lamp of your body, when your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.”

In the context of this passage, Jesus is speaking about greed and selfishness, and is basically using an expression that is associated with a generous eye towards others. However the thought that our spiritual eyes or our perspective is the light that directs our inner self is true.

Our focus, our spiritual sight, is the center or lamp from which we interpret and act upon life. If my vision is clear, that is, if I am seeing things through God’s truth, then my motives and deeds are righteous; but, if my vision is darkened by self, greed or worldliness then darkness and confusion reign in my life.

Pray for Right Sight
The apostle Paul understood the importance of spiritual sight. It is so important that we see God and ourselves in relationship to Him correctly that Paul spent time praying for the disciples to see it right. Ephesians 1:18 records his prayer for the spiritual vision of the disciples to be increased that they will know God and His love more deeply.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”  Ephesians 1:18-19 (NASB)

I have to ask myself, “Am I seeing God for who He really is, or is my sight dimmed and blurred by my ideas or the world’s ideas of God?” 
I think it is a good idea to pray daily that the eyes of our hearts will be opened that we may see the truth and wonders of God.

God Invests in Our Eyesight
What we see spiritually is important to God. He wants us to know about Him and the good news of Jesus. God specifically set Paul aside to go and “open the eyes “of people that they might see their lost state and God’s salvation. See what God says to Paul.

“ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:17-18

I love the fact that God is actually helping us learn the truth about Him so that we will know Him and come into a relationship with Him. It is refreshing to know that God cares about my growth and is directing my learning.

In Revelation 3:18, the Lord warns and encourages the church in Laodicea to buy salve for their eyes that they might see themselves and the world with right spiritual sight.

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

God is so invested in how we see Him, ourselves and the world that He sent His Son and appointed Him to gives us true spiritual sight. This message is made clear by Jesus in Luke 4:18.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…”

I have to ask myself, “What am I willing to do to get this spiritual sight from God?”

God Gives Us a Focus
In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we read that God directs us to focus on the spiritual; not the worldly.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Again in Hebrew 12:2, God encourages us to “look at” the person and life of Jesus. When I look at my problems I can be overwhelmed. When I look at my sin I can be despaired. When I look to myself and my wisdom I lose my way. When I focus on Jesus, I am re-directed and strengthened. Like Peter in Matthew 14:22-33 when he fixed his eyes on Jesus he walked on the water, we too will be able to walk on the waves of life if we keep our eyes on Jesus.

^“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3