When I was younger, I had a problem with my vision and had to wear glasses.  Thankfully I don’t have to anymore – thanks to a rare situation in 1999 when my medical insurance actually allowed me to have Lasik eye surgery at no cost.  But I still sympathize with those who struggle with their eyesight. I actually remember when my eyesight began deteriorating.  I resisted the idea of getting glasses.  I didn’t want to be labeled a “four-eyes” so I did what any normal 14 year old, image-conscious young man would do…I pretended everything was fine.

I would squint when no one was looking.  I would sort of guess what the teacher was writing on the board based on context.  I would sit closer and closer to the TV in order to try to see clearly.  But after a while, the fighting just became too much.  I broke down and faced reality – I NEED GLASSES.  So begrudgingly I went to the eye doctor and got a prescription.

MAN WHAT A DIFFERENCE!  I could see!  It was like a whole new world opened up to me – all those fuzzy little details now became clear.  I could see what the teacher was writing on the board.  I didn’t have to sit two feet from the TV in order to watch.  I could read a book without burying my face inside it.  It was an amazing transformation that I could have never predicted would take place.

How about your spiritual vision?  Have you had that checked recently?  

A wise man once said:

“The most telling characteristic about a man is his view of God.  Tell me who your God is and I will tell you who you will become.”

What a powerful statement.  Nothing will affect the OUTCOME of your life more than the OUTLOOK of your life.  If you don’t see God clearly, then you won’t see life clearly either – things will always be fuzzy.  You won’t be able to function at your highest level because things won’t be clear.

How do you see God?  Some see an unfair judge.  Others see a bossy tyrant.  Others see a pushy intruder.  What do you see?  If you don’t see God as He really is then you will never be able to live life to the fullest.

Unfortunately, many of us have never taken the time to investigate God’s character.  We come to God with pre-conceived ideas about who God is and how He deals with us.  We think that He treats us as others treat us [WRONG!].  Or we think that He sees us as we see ourselves [even MORE WRONG!].  Or we think that He deals with us as we deal with others [the MOST WRONG!].

Let me invite you to get your spiritual eyes checked.  Maybe it’s time to go to the Divine Ophthalmologist.  Ask Him to give you glasses to see Him as He really is.  Instead of guessing how God looks at you and what God wants from you, go to His Word and see for yourself what it says.  When you do so, you may start to see life in a whole new light.

“Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”  So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.”  (Matthew 20:33-34)

For discussion:  have you ever had a moment where your eyes were opened?  Where you realized that what you previously thought about God was inaccurate?