Fuzzy or Clear?

Yesterday morning I had an eye exam. It involved several steps and multiple machines. And many questions. What colors do you see? What letters can you read? Better one or better two? But there was one question that I heard the most:  Fuzzy or clear? This was the question I was asked multiple times this morning by the doctor. Our vision is something we take seriously—and for good reason! If we can’t see properly, it is obviously dangerous to drive or impossible to enjoy a beautiful sunset.  I can’t even begin to fathom what it would have been like for me to live in a world without glasses or vision care. I would miss out on so many things in life with my blurred vision.  We know the importance of routine eye exams.  They prescribe proper prescriptions. They check for potential warning signs or dangerous eye conditions. Most importantly, they ensure we can clearly see what we need to.  
As I was waiting in the office, this Bible verse came to mind from this past Sunday. You’ll hopefully remember these words of Jesus spoken to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.” (John 20:29)  Of course, Jesus is commending you and I and all believers who, though we cannot physically see Jesus, we still keep our eyes fixed upon him. We have faith that He is risen, even without being eyewitnesses ourselves. But I believe Jesus is also talking about how still need to look to Him, even if we can’t actually see Him.

Our “spiritual” vision is just as important as our routine eye doctor visits. Hebrews 12:2 say, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”  Of course we cannot see Him the flesh. So how do we fix our eyes on Jesus?  How do we ensure we are always seeing Jesus clearly?  Indeed, there are many distractions that blur our vision. There are many pitfalls and temptations that fuzzy up our view of Jesus.  Sometimes we let pride or self-righteousness cloud our vision. Sometimes we view and interpret the world through our own personal feelings and not God’s eternal truths. No question, we all have moments of “spiritual” blindness.  Our spiritual vision doesn’t require glasses, but it does require help from God.  It will always be fogged by sin and carnality. If we refuse to let go of our sinful ways, we may wake up one day and find our spiritual vision dimmed. This condition deceives us into thinking we can continue living like the world and still know God intimately.  
Just as the eye doctor sharpens a person’s vision with glasses and contact lenses, Jesus sharpens our vision and focus through our daily prayers, His Word, worship gatherings, serving, and Bible study. To grow, to change, to open our eyes and hearts, and to see our place in His work, we must have a desire to see more clearly. Our spiritual vision can be improved through obedience to God’s word, regular repentance, and a continual connection with Him in prayer. Not only will He restore our faulty gaze, but He will give us a new vision to cling more tightly to His incredible grace. When we take Jesus at His word and submerge ourselves in His grace, our eyes are refocused, renewed and filled with the light of who He is. We are filled with a new sense of clarity about what is important, and the hope of what Jesus can do in our lives when we see things the way He does.
 “Look around and be distressed, look within and be depressed, look to Jesus and be at rest.” (Corrie ten Boom)
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” (Darlene Zschech)