Vision

Of all the lengthy list of things we take far too much for granted, no doubt our ability to see is right up at the top. Eyesight is a miracle of such mysterious proportion even modern medicine cannot fully account for it. The sudden loss of vision therefore, is devastating.

Basically, this is has been our recent experience. How ironic is it, that, in 2020, the year prophets both secular and sacred proclaimed as the season of increased vision, a Covid epidemic came upon us with such rapidly abrupt descent it was akin to being caught in a pea-soup fog. We’ve been stumbling around now for seven full months, hardly able to keep our own feet in sight, let alone the road. That’s a staggering paradox and one that deserves closer investigation.

The Scripture tells us “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” (Proverbs 29:18). As our ideas for normal maneuvering in these exceptional times are challenged, it’s bringing the full range of our emotion to the surface. We feel like we’re perishing; fearful, hopeless, cynical, overwhelmed. Each day seems a mountain to be climbed. We cling desperately and deliberately to our hope. The world is a terrifying place when you can’t see.

I’ve been thinking a lot about sight. Remember the crazy parable where Jesus heals the blind man at Bethsaida by spitting on mud, and applying it to his eyes? The interesting thing about that story is the fact that it took two cracks at it to get it right. The first time, the vision was blurred: “men walking, but they look like trees” (Mark 8:22-26). It took two separate ministrations and strategies for him to be made whole. Why?

Apparently, vision is complicated. It isn’t only what your eye sees, it’s what your mind can see. Natural sight is sublime, but it’s not the only kind there is. The eyes of the mind are responsible for insight, comprehension, perception, intuition, imagination and understanding, to name just a few. Our inner eye is one of the most powerful gifts of self-exploration we possess. Not only that, but when we become born-again believers, we are given prophetic vision, which allow us to see into unseen realms of the Spirit. Through this inward eye, we access the horizon of our existence from an elevated vantage point. However, this is not a simple lesson to learn.

For we walk by faith, and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Moonless nights made the basement of our farm-house pitch dark – a blackness so dense you could almost feel it. It wasn’t funny when you were the last one in the TV room and your rascally sister turned the stairwell light out on you, but the complete dark made for a masterful romp of Hide and seek. Not for the faint of heart, this little game could scare the crap out of you.

We soon learned that when you can’t see, the best thing to do is stay perfectly still and just listen. Other faculties tremendously sharpen. If you fix the layout of the room in your mind’s eye and trust yourself, you can astonishingly navigate without injury. Control your breathing and you will hear the slightest whisper of sound. Close your eyes to feel the air eddy softly around you, signaling movement. Sometimes, the faintest scent of warm human flesh exposed someone’s position. Even as kids, this game in the inky black was an experience in how not to rely on your eyes.

It's a good day to recall those lessons. At a time when we cannot see an end to the madness, we’ve got to rely on our Spiritual sight. We’ve got to fight for vision. This discipline is quite possibly what the Lord intended all along. Through the darkness we are being positioned for a massive upgrade in insight and understanding. Come up to a whole level. Look deep within, for there are visions, dreams, and manifestations of great glory with your name on it. Step into His vision. Think big. Now think bigger.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3

...That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ… Ephesians 1:17-21

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