Illus: Because our eyesight is so crucial to us, He created the eye so it can be protected.
For example:
• God placed our eyes lower than our forehead so our eyes can be protected by our forehead.
• God gave us eyebrows for the purpose to help keep moisture, such as sweat and rain, out of our eyes. The arch shape of the eyebrows directs moisture away from the eyes,
• God gave us eye lids primarily for the purpose of the eyelids to protet the eyes from external dangers, such as dust, debris, and harmful light. They also help to keep the eyes moist by spreading tears and other secretions over the eye's surface. The eyelashes, which grow from the eyelid serve to further protect the eyes from dust and debris.
I mention these things because God has a concern for protecting the eyes PYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.
God has done everything he can to protect our eyes but we also have a responsibility to protect them.
Illus: Did you hear about the fellow that went to the store the other day, and he said that he was there for only about 5 minutes.
When he came out, he SAW there was a motorcycle policeman writing a parking ticket.
• He went up to him and said, "Come on, buddy, how about giving a fellow a break?" He ignored him and continued writing the ticket.
• So he called him a pencil-necked Nazi. He glared at him and started writing another ticket for having worn tires on the car!
• So he told him he was an idiot. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first.
• Then he started writing a third ticket! This went on for about 20 minutes.
• The man said, “I discovered the more I abused the policemen with insult after insult, the more tickets he wrote.”
• He said, “But I didn't care. My car was parked around the corner. I try to have a little fun each day!”
The next time you SEE a policeman writing a ticket, I would not suggest you do the same as he did.
In this short passage of scripture, Jesus used the image of eyes to convey an important spiritual principle.
First, we need to consider…
I. THE PROBLEM OF BAD EYESIGHT
Did you know that bad eyesight in the Scriptures is often used as a metaphor for stupidity?
We see that clearly in the Scriptures, such as in:
• Matthew 15:14, we read, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” This verse of Scripture certainly implies stupidity.
• 2 Peter 1:9, we read, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” This verse of Scripture implies stupidity.
• Revelation 3:17, we read, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” This verse of Scripture also implies stupidity.
These scriptures make it clear that spiritually bad eyesight can represent stupidity.
Let me explain…
Illus: If a fellow believes there is a hell and he will not come to Christ to escape a burning hell certainly cannot be classified a very smart person.
You see the eye is the window of the heart, mind, and "inner being" of a person.
And if a person can not see clearly where they are walking, they are headed for some trouble.
Illus: Have you ever tried to look though a dirty window?
Just a small amount of dirt can affect our vision, but a lot of dirt on the window can cause our eyesight to be diminish so much we can not see anything.
This is the problem with many professing Christians:
• Because of sin in their life, they can not see their need to faithfully attend church.
• Because of sin in their life, they can not see their need to support God’s work with His tithes.
• Because of sin in their life, they can not see their need to make Christ Lord of their life.
SIN HAS BECOME THE DOMINANT THING IN THEIR LIFE!!!
We follow the eye wherever it leads us.
We have looked at THE PROBLEM OF BAD EYE SIGHT, but also let’s look at-
II. THE REMEDY FOR BAD EYESIGHT
When it comes to physical eyesight, there are some things they can do to improve bad eyesight.
In many cases now, you can have eye surgery, and the things that caused the blindness can be remedied.
Illus: The wife of Dr. Larry Wegner, who has gone to be with the Lord, had bad eye sight for many years. She wore thick glasses, and it became a way of life for her to go around each day stumbling over things because she could not see.
But she was told about this new kind of surgery that would correct her eye problems.
She submitted to having this eye surgery. After the surgery, without any eye glasses, she now has 20/20 vision. She tells everyone how nice it is to have this eye condition corrected.
But many have this problem spiritually. That is, it has become a way of life for them to walk around each day in the darkness of sin, looking at things as if they were looking through a dirty glass.
IF THEY COULD ONLY SEE THE HORRIBLE MISTAKE THEY ARE MAKING!!!
WHAT CAN THEY DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SPIRITUALL?
They can do several things:
(1)First, recognize that they have a problem.
Remember the word for BLINDNESS CAN ALSO REPRESENT STUPIDITY.
Illus: Can you imagine a blind man that is totally blind, who denies he is blind trying to convince him he is blind BUT HE WANT ACCEPT IT!!!
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
He has walked so long in darkness and this is all he knows and he consider darkness is just a way of life.
Illus: People who walking in spiritual blindness (darkness) is not the smartest people on earth.
It is difficult to convince them they are blind spiritually.
It is sometimes difficult to get people to realize they have a problem.
Some women are convinced that some men are not that smart!!!
They might be right!!!
Illus: IF THEY WERE SMART WHY CAN'T THEY STOP WEARING NECKTIES? HOW INTELLIGENT IS IT TO START THE DAY OFF BY TYING A NOOSE AROUND YOUR NECK?
It is astounding to see how many Christians have spiritual eyesight problems, and do not even recognize their problem.
Stumbling around in the darkness of sin each day has just become a way of life for them.
What they need to do is recognize that God has a BETTER LIFE THAN THE KIND THEY ARE NOW LIVING!
It is good to be content.
Paul said in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Notice contement is a learning process. Paul said, “I have learned”.
This is a lesson that some have never learned!!!
In a world driven by the desire for more…
• More possessions,
• More recognition,
• More success
contentment often feels elusive.
Yet, the Scriptures call us to a life of contentment, not based on material accumulation but on trust in God’s provision.
As Paul writes in Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Contentment is not merely the absence of desire; it is a deep-seated peace that comes from knowing God is enough. It is recognizing that our worth is not measured by what we own but by our relationship with God. As John Stott noted, "Contentment is the secret of inward peace." It invites us to look vertically at God rather than horizontally at what others possess
It invites us to look vertically at God rather than horizontally at what others have.”
But we should never be content living a life that has been blurred by sin.
However, sometimes DISCONTENTMENT CAN BE GOOD FOR US.
Why?
Because discontentment can lead to CHANGE.
Change is the one constant thing in this life that we have to deal with.
• There are only so many times you can listen to a song before you don't want to hear it anymore.
• There are only so many times you can wear a beautiful sweater before it loses its beauty.
• There are only so many times you can eat squash without getting tired of it.
Dissatisfaction causes one to seek something better.
“The grass is always greener on the other side”, or so the saying goes.
When we become DISCONTENTED, we have to be willing to do the OPPOSITE of what we are now doing.
For example:
• The opposite of fear is optimism (The belief that you can gradually improve a situation).
• The opposite of dissatisfaction is "counting your blessings".
To gain more inner peace and contentment, seek the opposite of the cause of your discontentment.
Before we can get any help with our SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, we have to become dissatisfied with what we now have.
If we are ever going to get any help, we have to first RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
But that is not enough-
(2) Recognize where we can find some help for this problem.
Paul, who was CONTENT about some things in his life, was very DISCONTENTED about other things in his life.
Because he was always striving to live a more perfect life, he went on to be one of God’s choice servants.
Paul had spiritual 20/20 vision. He SEE what he wanted, and he stayed focused on that goal.
We can all be thankful that Paul did not keep this wonderful discovery to himself but he shares it with every child of God who wants the best God has for them.
Look at Phillipians 4:4-14, he shows us five things we need to consider.
(1) Look at verse 4, we read, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say, Rejoice.”
Paul said to rejoice in, instead of trying to find something to complain about.
No matter how desperate things get, God is worthy of praise.
Rejoicing in the Lord is not a result of feeling, it is a matter of choice.
(2) Look at verse 6, we read, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
In other words, no matter what we face, prayer is the solution.
• Anxiety stems from a distrust of God
• Prayer is based upon trust in God
It is faith in action. We need to pray about everything.
(3) Look at verse 8, we read, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
If we are going to have 20/20 spiritual eye sight, we are going to have to get our thought life under control.
HOW DO WE DO THIS?
The Bible says, “THINK ON THESE THINGS.”
WHAT THINGS?
These things:
• Whatsoever things are honest
• Whatsoever things are just
• Whatsoever things are pure
• Whatsoever things are lovely
• Whatsoever things are of good report
• If there be any virtue
• If there be any praise
Think on these things!
Rather than dwell on the negative, we choose to concentrate on "whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy."
(4) Look at verse 9, we read, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Many do not have 20/20 spiritual vision, because they can hear a good Bible sermon, and they go home and forget what they heard.
Illus: You would think churches with a pastor like Dr. Adrian Roger that every member in his church would hear a great sermon and the people go home and forget everything they heard an hour after they arrived home.
One of the big problems in many churches, it is not that the Word of God is not being preached, the problem is people are not receiving the Word of God into their life. THEY ARE HEARING IT BUT NO RECEIVING IT.
Paul says we need to TAKE THE WORD OF GOD HOME AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD IT, AND DO IT!
(5) Look at verse 13, we read, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
We are to always remember that with Christ there is nothing that we cannot handle.
Grace provides the strength we need in such time…
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it., that you may be able to bear it.”
However, life sometimes can throw somethings at us that is rough to handle, but by the grace of God we can handle them!!!
Sometime in the Christian life it feels God has placed more on us then what we can bear, during those times we need to ask for more Grace.
For example:
• The death of a loved one seems almost unbearable. Such times we have to ask the Lord for MORE GRACE.
• Losing everything we have in a house fire. Such times we have to ask the Lord for MORE GRACE.
Although Grace was given to each one of us when we got saved, sometimes we must ask GOD to give us more Grace to enable us to endure the things we are going through.
Look at James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Look at Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Conclusion:
As I close this sermon let us ask God to give us GOOD EYESIGHT.
And spiritually as we protect our eyes physically, let us protect our spiritual eyesight so that we can walk in the will of God daily.
I. THE PROBLEM OF BAD EYESIGHT
II. THE REMEDY FOR BAD EYESIGHT
