Seeing Dimly - Martin Wiles

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

Things were clouding over, and I was getting nervous.

My eyesight had been getting worse. Around mid-life, I heard the optometrist pronounce that I was a good candidate for glaucoma, so he began treating me with drops. I also discovered I had dry-eye disease, which required more drops. 

Things cleared up, temporarily. One month into my new venture, the vision in my left eye clouded over. Blurriness reigned, and I got more nervous by the day. My wife called the doctor and scheduled an appointment. Fortunately, it was only pink eye.

I’ve been seeing things dimly since I was about ten years old. Without glasses, I see more dimly now than then, and I have no hope my eyes will improve. Paul saw dimly as well. Scholars conjecture that he may have had poor eyesight, but the sight he speaks of here is spiritual.

Though we see dimly, Jesus, as God’s representative on earth—and God in the flesh--could see clearly. When He cleared the Court of the Gentiles of merchants who were cheating worshipers, he could see their deception and how they prevented Gentiles from worshiping. When Nicodemus came with questions, Jesus saw he needed a new birth. When the disciples marveled over the grandeur of the Temple, Jesus saw its coming destruction.

I’ve resigned that my eyesight will never improve. Glasses will ornament my face until I die. But though my eyesight will never be 20/20 physically, I can see 20/20—or at least close to it--spiritually.

Like those who produce plays or movies, God first wrote the final chapter of our lives. The plan is in place; we must simply consult Him on how to get there. Nor is God out to conceal the plan. We can know His plan and trust that it’s good. He wants us to live a whole life, and accomplishing His purpose is the only way. He’ll gladly allow us to see His plan clearly if we ask.

Don’t wonder why you’re here. God has a purpose for you. Seek it out through prayer and meditation on His Word. He’ll be happy to reveal it to you.

Father, I ask You to show me Your purpose and plan for my life. 

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Clearing up the Blurries - Martin Wiles

The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Psalm 19:8 NLT

Before I knew it, my clear world had gone blurry.

Glasses entered my world at a very young age. I had always worried that one day I might lose my sight. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened, but a checkup later in life revealed high pressure in my eyes. I saw a cornea specialist in a nearby town, and he informed me I was a candidate for glaucoma. 

But this wasn’t the reason for the blurriness. Dry-eye syndrome was the culprit. After a year of treatment, he managed to clear up my blurry vision. But it takes me tilting my head back and dropping various drops in my eyes to keep the blurries away. Do I tire of dropping drops? Yes. Would I stop? No. I like things clear, not fuzzy.

The psalmist wanted to see things clearly also. To do so, he went to God’s word. For him, the principles found therein cleared up life. No blurriness. No fuzzy vision.

Life can be blurry—as my vision was. Things in my own life haven’t always made sense. Some things in the world don’t either. The recent mass shooting by a crazed individual at a Las Vegas country music festival proves it. Why would anyone open a window and spray thousands of people with gunfire to see how many he could kill? Since he killed himself, we may never know.

God’s Word clears up the blurries. Its principles are trustworthy. People want something they can depend on as true in all circumstances. I can with God’s Word. Though many doubt their validity, I never do, and my life is clearer because of it.

From a small boy to an adult, I’ve built my life on God’s teachings. They’ve never steered me wrong, and I have faith they never will. They are pure and perfect and help me see life from God’s perspective rather than my own—which is often blurry. Seeing life from God’s viewpoint keeps me from making many unwise decisions and foolish moves.

And when things are clear, I enjoy life more. I experience peaceful living. I live through the bad times and the good times, believing God’s promise to work all things together for my good because I love Him and belong to His family.

Don’t go through life with blurry vision. Trust God’s Word and see things clearly.

Tweetable: Are you looking at life with blurry vision?

Prayer: Father, thank You for providing the means through which we can see things clearly. 

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