How's Your Vision?

"Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision. And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:2-3

During one of my many hospital stays I had a life-threatening drug reaction known as Steven Johnson’s Syndrome. Each person reacts differently but for all it is a hellish experience. For me, the reaction started with my eyes and eventually moved down my shoulders. My body looked burned and my eyes blisters which made it impossible for me to see.

Fortunately my blindness was only temporary. As my eyes began to slowly heal it felt like someone was constantly throwing sand at me. Naturally, in response to this sensation, I kept my eyes closed most of the time unless I was drowning them in artificial tears. When I did open them the irritation made me blink rapidly which caused everything to be extremely blurred. I couldn't even see myself in the mirror.

One afternoon I was taken to the eye clinic to be examined. This involved reading an eye chart using several different instruments. No matter how rapidly I blinked I could not read the largest line of the chart. So, I did what most people do when they cannot really make the letters out. I made it seem like I could and did a lot of guessing. Unfortunately I'm not a "good guesser." The doctor was not all that impressed and I found it quite depressing.

Eventually the blisters on my corneas healed  but I still felt like someone was constantly throwing sand in my eyes. I was not blind but I could not see, either. A simple procedure was recommended to help my eyes produce more moisture. The results were instantaneous and that same eye chart that I could not read before was suddenly much clearer. My eyes still had some healing to do but I could read enough to see that my vision was clearing and I was moving in a forward direction.

Recently while reading this passage of Scripture from Habakkuk I found myself relating to it differently then in the past especially regarding vision. My mind went back to the eye chart that I read. It was a standard one that is probably posted in eye clinics all around this nation. It had been written and was very plain. A child could read it. Why? Because they are blessed with something called "vision."

We are given "vision" in our spiritual lives as well and that vision helps us to read the signs and get where we need to go. God places something in us that becomes a motivating force. This vision is something that we can see clearly even from a distance. Sometimes we have to wait till the "lights get turned on" so to speak but when they come on we can see it clearly. The only time there is a problem is if our vision is impaired.

Impaired sight. Let's face it, sometimes our ability to see "the vision" is hindered. The enemy blinds us with the cares of this world. He throws the little things of life up in our faces until we are blinking furiously in an effort to see anything. Why? Because he does not want us to see the vision because he knows that what God has spoken He will bring to pass in due season.

The devil would rather that we close our eyes and or sit there blinded because it is then that he is truly able to hinder the work of God.

I could have stayed in that condition and right now would not be able to see this screen or keyboard. Fear could have kept me from having the procedure I needed to have my vision restored. I had to want to see clearly--and I did. Because of this I went to a physician who could help me. She did and as I said, immediately my sight improved greatly.

Perhaps your vision is fuzzy unclear today. Though God wrote it plainly on the tablet of your heart everything has become blurry and you can no longer see it. You may be walking around totally almost blind making things up as you go along that look like good things to do. As good as they may be, doing good things and doing God things are two completely different actions.

Is the enemy throwing every little thing he can find in your face at the moment? Whether it be your failures or mistakes or someone else’s, his lies can hinder our sight. God wants to open up our hearts so He can wash out the grit and grime. He wants to treat our eyes so that we can see the truth again. He does not want us to be blind to others or to Him.

As the Great Physician He specializes in the area of "vision." Do you need to be treated by Him today? With Him there are no long delays or waiting lists. Best of all He still makes house calls. There is no need to go around struggling to see that which God has already made PLAIN. Stop guessing and trying to impress people. Get your spiritual eyes examined and submit to necessary treatment (the Word of God administered by the power of the Holy Spirit) so that your vision will be 20/20 again.