20/20 VISION, WALKING AROUND BLIND…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is a two part lesson, or condense)
We are learning more and more about less and less until finally we know everything about nothing!
I was recently visiting my Dad. Dad is 90 years old. He has short term memory loss. He can’t remember if he ate breakfast or not. He can remember 50 years ago like yesterday. My Dad started singing a song: 2020 vision, walking around blind….
I never heard of the song… Thank God for Google… check it out… It was written by Joe Allison and Milton Estes in the late 1940’s and recorded by many in the early 1950’s…
The words: I been to the doctor, he says I am all right, I know he is lying, I am losing my sight.
He should have examined the eyes of my mind: 20/20 vision and I’m walking around blind.
Another verse says: With my eyes wide open I lay on my bed. If it wasn’t for dying,
I wish I was dead, but this is my punishment. Death is too kind --- 20/20 vision and walking around blind…
*TEMPORAL: OF OR RELATING TO TIME AS OPPOSED TO ETERNITY, earthly life, secular, carnal
*ETERNAL: endless, never stops, LASTING FOREVER, abundant life, life continues after death, perpetual…
PUT YOUR EAR TO THE GROUND… SEEMS WE CAN SEE THE TEMPORAL MUCH MORE THAN THE ETERNAL.
I remember watching WESTERNS as a child. The Indian would climb down off his horse and put his ear to the ground. He would listen closely to know if there were horses nearby. As he listened he would understand what direction the cowboys were coming. My friend, we need to put our ears to the ground.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? DO WE FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS OR ON GOD? THERE WAS A YOUNG PREACHER HELPING THE OLD PREACHER… THE YOUNG PREACHER COULD SEE THE TEMPORAL PROBLEMS. THE TEMPORAL VISION OF THE YOUNG PREACHER BRED FEAR AND ANXIETY. THE YOUNG MAN FOCUSED ON PROBLEMS AND TROUBLES…
2 Kings 6:13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
WHAT BREEDS FEAR IN THE YOUNG PREACHER YIELDS TO GREAT FAITH IN THE OLD PREACHER… THE GREAT DIFFERENCE IN FEAR AND FAITH WAS THEIR VISION… THE YOUNG MAN SAW THE TEMPORAL AND FEAR BREEDS FEAR… THE OLD PREACHER SAW WITH ETERNAL VISION. THE OLD PREACHER FOCUSED HIS VISION ABOVE, HE COULD SEE THE ETERNAL.
Elisha’s focus with eternal vision was to see GOD CAN! Look, there are more with us… why could the young preacher not see what the old preacher saw? LORD OPEN OUR EYES THAT WE MIGHT SEE…
1. LORD OPEN OUR EYES. (Eternal)
2. LORD CLOSE THEIR EYES. (Temporal)
3. FOLLOW ME.
4. OPEN THEIR EYES.
5. DON’T KILL THEM --- FEED THEM AND MAKE THEM FRIENDS.
2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
WE MUST LEARN TO IDENTIFY TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES: TEMPORAL VISION VERSUS ETERNAL VISION.
Have we ever considered the differences between temporary and eternal? It is so easy to invest our time, talent and energy in the temporal. WHERE ARE WE INVESTING OUR TIME, TALENT AND ENERGY? HOW MUCH EFFORT AND ENERGY DO WE INVEST IN THE TEMPORAL VS THE ETERNAL? It is so easy to focus on the struggle of things, stress, finances, emotional overloads and look for peace and contentment.
EVERYBODY IS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING… ARE WE SEARCHING FOR LOVE, JOY, PEACE, CONTENTMENT AND HOPE
IN THE TEMPORAL? ARE WE SO INVESTED IN THE TEMPORAL THAT WE HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE ETERNITY?
As we live and learn we should realize “THINGS” are kind of like “CHASING THE POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.” All of your worry, fretting, discouragement, anxiety and hopelessness has stolen what might have been?
20/20 VISION, WALKING AROUND BLIND…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is a two part lesson, or condense)
We are learning more and more about less and less until finally we know everything about nothing!
I was recently visiting my Dad. Dad is 90 years old. He has short term memory loss. He can’t remember if he ate breakfast or not. He can remember 50 years ago like yesterday. My Dad started singing a song: 2020 vision, walking around blind….
I never heard of the song… Thank God for Google… check it out… It was written by Joe Allison and Milton Estes in the late 1940’s and recorded by many in the early 1950’s…
The words: I been to the doctor, he says I am all right, I know he is lying, I am losing my sight.
He should have examined the eyes of my mind: 20/20 vision and I’m walking around blind.
Another verse says: With my eyes wide open I lay on my bed. If it wasn’t for dying,
I wish I was dead, but this is my punishment. Death is too kind --- 20/20 vision and walking around blind…
*TEMPORAL: OF OR RELATING TO TIME AS OPPOSED TO ETERNITY, earthly life, secular, carnal
*ETERNAL: endless, never stops, LASTING FOREVER, abundant life, life continues after death, perpetual…
PUT YOUR EAR TO THE GROUND… SEEMS WE CAN SEE THE TEMPORAL MUCH MORE THAN THE ETERNAL.
I remember watching WESTERNS as a child. The Indian would climb down off his horse and put his ear to the ground. He would listen closely to know if there were horses nearby. As he listened he would understand what direction the cowboys were coming. My friend, we need to put our ears to the ground.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? DO WE FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS OR ON GOD? THERE WAS A YOUNG PREACHER HELPING THE OLD PREACHER… THE YOUNG PREACHER COULD SEE THE TEMPORAL PROBLEMS. THE TEMPORAL VISION OF THE YOUNG PREACHER BRED FEAR AND ANXIETY. THE YOUNG MAN FOCUSED ON PROBLEMS AND TROUBLES…
2 Kings 6:13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
WHAT BREEDS FEAR IN THE YOUNG PREACHER YIELDS TO GREAT FAITH IN THE OLD PREACHER… THE GREAT DIFFERENCE IN FEAR AND FAITH WAS THEIR VISION… THE YOUNG MAN SAW THE TEMPORAL AND FEAR BREEDS FEAR… THE OLD PREACHER SAW WITH ETERNAL VISION. THE OLD PREACHER FOCUSED HIS VISION ABOVE, HE COULD SEE THE ETERNAL.
Elisha’s focus with eternal vision was to see GOD CAN! Look, there are more with us… why could the young preacher not see what the old preacher saw? LORD OPEN OUR EYES THAT WE MIGHT SEE…
1. LORD OPEN OUR EYES. (Eternal)
2. LORD CLOSE THEIR EYES. (Temporal)
3. FOLLOW ME.
4. OPEN THEIR EYES.
5. DON’T KILL THEM --- FEED THEM AND MAKE THEM FRIENDS.
2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
WE MUST LEARN TO IDENTIFY TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES: TEMPORAL VISION VERSUS ETERNAL VISION.
Have we ever considered the differences between temporary and eternal? It is so easy to invest our time, talent and energy in the temporal. WHERE ARE WE INVESTING OUR TIME, TALENT AND ENERGY? HOW MUCH EFFORT AND ENERGY DO WE INVEST IN THE TEMPORAL VS THE ETERNAL? It is so easy to focus on the struggle of things, stress, finances, emotional overloads and look for peace and contentment.
EVERYBODY IS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING… ARE WE SEARCHING FOR LOVE, JOY, PEACE, CONTENTMENT AND HOPE
IN THE TEMPORAL? ARE WE SO INVESTED IN THE TEMPORAL THAT WE HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE ETERNITY?
As we live and learn we should realize “THINGS” are kind of like “CHASING THE POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.” All of your worry, fretting, discouragement, anxiety and hopelessness has stolen what might have been?
I HAVE BEEN WITH MANY DYING PEOPLE AND LISTENED CLOSELY TO “THE REGRETS.”
I was driving an elderly lady to a doctor’s appointment in Lexington. It was a four hour trip. The doctor did not have real good news. Her days were limited. On the way home we stopped and ate. Then we headed home. She bowed her head and never spoke for some time. I noticed tears running down her face. The quiet stillness was deafening in the car. She never raised her head. She pulled out her handkerchief and wiped off her face.
She was broken and started speaking. I listened. She was a wise woman. She was in her 80’s. With her head bowed she said Pastor you know my husband and I felt like we could never afford to pay our tithes. The Lord blessed us abundantly but 10% seemed so much and we decided that was too much to give. So we both decided we would not give. She has a few days to live. She said: I SEE NOW WE COULD HAVE EASILY PAID OUR TITHES.
She went on and said we have gone to our church 80+ years, Pastors have come and gone. They made huge sacrifices and their families have gone without. Most of them stayed until they had to leave because of their finances.
She had tears flowing down her face. My husband and I giving could have made a difference. We were faithful in attendance, we just felt like we could not afford to give.
I have pastored many years. I am now an old man. I still remember that day so very well. The words echo in my ears:
PASTOR, WE FELT WE COULD NOT GIVE AND NOW I SEE WE COULD HAVE GIVEN AND BEEN BLESSED. Not only was my heart broken for her regrets. I was broken for every preacher that had pastored that little church and struggled because the focus on the temporal… I CAN’T. I CAN’T AFFORD. NOW I SEE, the eternal vision should become clearer…
I REALLY SEE AND UNDERSTAND THAT ETERNITY LIES AHEAD…DO WE SEE MY DAILY CHOICES IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY?
Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
By focusing on the temporal we refuse to listen to the word of God. If you refuse to accept that every verse in the Bible carries the weight of 31,100+ verses and 1,189 chapters, 66 BOOKS of ETERNAL VALUE. Do we see the TEMPORAL VALUE SYSTEM and fail to acknowledge and to honor the CREATOR?
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
SURE WE HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE… BUT LIFE IS TEMPORARY. WHY TALK AND INVEST MORE IN THE TEMPORAL AND LIVE LIKE YOU HAVE MORE TIME? ONE BREATH WILL BE THE LAST. WAKE UP!
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
MAN’S DAYS ARE SHORT AND FULL OF TROUBLE… THE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE…
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
GOD TRIES TO TEACH ABRAHAM SOME VALUABLE LESSONS… ONE OF GOD’S GREATEST LESSONS TO ABRAHAM IS AT BEST WE ARE STRANGERS LIVING IN A TEMPORARY SITUATION…
THE BUTTERFLY’S COCOON TEACHES US HOW TEMPORARY LIFE IS AS WE KNOW IT… WE KNOW THERE IS A PROCESS OF METAMORPHOSIS… OUR CHANGE IS COMING… DO WE INVEST MORE IN THE TEMPORAL THAN THE ETERNAL?
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
CONCLUSION: WE ARE ETERNAL BEINGS… You will make the choice to die forever? Or live forever? Are we building with WOOD, HAY OE STUBBLE? THE FIRE IS COMING… WHY NOT INVEST IN ETERNITY? GOLD, SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES?
What are you building? Could you invest more in eternity?
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I was in Harlan County, Kentucky … coal mining was king. I returned to do a funeral. I was there early. The funeral director asked who was I there to see. I introduced myself as Wade M. Hughes. He promptly told me: YOU ARE NOT WADE M. HUGHES. I said yes sir I am. He again informed me I was not Wade M. Hughes.
He said You are not Wade M. Hughes, I know him. 40 years ago he pastored at Lynch. I pulled out my driver’s license and showed him. He then said the Wade M. Hughes I know is an old man. I explained that was my dad.
The funeral director said I have worked many times with your dad. As a matter of fact I can tell you how your dad closes in prayer. I listened as he said: LIVE WITH ETERNITIES VALUES IN VIEW FOR THERE IS TOO MUCH TO GAIN TO LOSE. I said: THAT’S MY DAD.
I ask are you sowing eternal seeds?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is a two part lesson.)
Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
By focusing on the temporal we refuse to listen to the word of God. If you refuse to accept that every verse in the Bible carries the weight of 31,100+ verses and 1,189 chapters, 66 BOOKS of ETERNAL VALUE. Do we see the TEMPORAL VALUE SYSTEM and fail to acknowledge and to honor the CREATOR?
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
SURE WE HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE… BUT LIFE IS TEMPORARY. WHY TALK AND INVEST MORE IN THE TEMPORAL AND LIVE LIKE YOU HAVE MORE TIME? ONE BREATH WILL BE THE LAST. WAKE UP!
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
MAN’S DAYS ARE SHORT AND FULL OF TROUBLE… THE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE…
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
GOD TRIES TO TEACH ABRAHAM SOME VALUABLE LESSONS… ONE OF GOD’S GREATEST LESSONS TO ABRAHAM IS AT BEST WE ARE STRANGERS LIVING IN A TEMPORARY SITUATION…
THE BUTTERFLY’S COCOON TEACHES US HOW TEMPORARY LIFE IS AS WE KNOW IT… WE KNOW THERE IS A PROCESS OF METAMORPHOSIS… OUR CHANGE IS COMING… DO WE INVEST MORE IN THE TEMPORAL THAN THE ETERNAL?
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
CONCLUSION: WE ARE ETERNAL BEINGS… You will make the choice to die forever? Or live forever? Are we building with WOOD, HAY OE STUBBLE? THE FIRE IS COMING… WHY NOT INVEST IN ETERNITY? GOLD, SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES?
What are you building? Could you invest more in eternity?
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I was in Harlan County, Kentucky … coal mining was king. I returned to do a funeral. I was there early. The funeral director asked who was I there to see. I introduced myself as Wade M. Hughes. He promptly told me: YOU ARE NOT WADE M. HUGHES. I said yes sir I am. He again informed me I was not Wade M. Hughes.
He said You are not Wade M. Hughes, I know him. 40 years ago he pastored at Lynch. I pulled out my driver’s license and showed him. He then said the Wade M. Hughes I know is an old man. I explained that was my dad.
The funeral director said I have worked many times with your dad. As a matter of fact I can tell you how your dad closes in prayer. I listened as he said: LIVE WITH ETERNITIES VALUES IN VIEW FOR THERE IS TOO MUCH TO GAIN TO LOSE. I said: THAT’S MY DAD.
I ask are you sowing eternal seeds?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is a two part lesson.)
