There seems to be a human tendency to have a blind side. We tend to see what we want to see in a given situation and that can leave us blind to the truth. When the truth is staring us directly in the face, too often we can’t see it because our minds have been clouded by deception. Why do we turn a blind eye to the truth? This is actually intentional spiritual warfare. In II Corinthians 4:4 it says, “among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (AMP).” In order to see, our eyes have to be opened to the truth, and this happens by Jesus and through Jesus who is “the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).”
John chapter 9 tells the story of the man who was born blind. Jesus, seeing this blind man, made some mud with His saliva and put it on the blind man’s eyes. He then gave the blind man instructions on where he was to go to wash the mud from his eyes. Acting in faith, in John 9:6 it says, “So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” The blind man acted on his faith that Jesus could heal him and his eyes were opened. This was a true miracle that the Pharisees could not explain. The Pharisees, trying to explain away this miracle, questioned the man not once but twice. After explaining twice how his eyes were opened by Jesus, the man said “…One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see (John 9:25).”
For speaking this truth, the Pharisees threw the man out of the synagogue. After hearing this, Jesus found the man and asked him if he believed in the Son of Man (John 9:35). The man answered that he did believe Jesus was the Son of Man and he worshiped Him (John 9:38). Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind (John 9:39).” Jesus opened this man’s eyes to His reality, to the truth. Jesus was able to heal the blind man and as a result was able to physically see, but also through this miracle the man’s eyes were opened to spiritual truth and he was able to see spiritually that Jesus is the Son of God.
The Pharisees asked the blind man how his eyes were opened. It was an encounter with Jesus that opened this man’s eyes. Jesus, though, didn’t just place His hands on the man’s eyes and heal them; instead He gave the blind man instructions on how he could be healed through Jesus’ work. The blind man had a choice: he could believe Jesus and act in faith by following His instructions or he could simply ignore the instructions and turn the other way. The blind man chose to act in faith, he followed through on Jesus’ instructions and was healed.
All of our eyes can be opened to the spiritual truths in the Word of God through Jesus’ finished work. What do we need to do? We simply believe in the Son of Man and act in faith on the instructions He gives us in His Word. When our eyes are opened through our belief in Jesus, our physical reality changes. No longer will we be susceptible to the deceptions of Satan because we can see the truth. No longer do we have to see ourselves as the victims of all of the bad in our physical world. Instead, where we were once blind we can now see the victory that Jesus gave us. The victory over sickness, poverty, and even death. When our eyes are opened we can see – truly see – by the Light of the world that came to shine in the darkness. Through a belief in Jesus we too can say “I was blind but now I see.”
The Truth in Action – Believing in Jesus and in His Word will open our eyes to God’s spiritual truths. For example, in John 8:47 it says, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.” This is a spiritual truth. All believers can hear God if they choose to listen for His voice. In Mark 11:24 we find another spiritual truth taught by Jesus: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” The Gospels are full of God’s spiritual truths taught by Jesus. Open your eyes to God’s spiritual truths by focusing on the lessons taught by Jesus in the Gospels. Focus on one Gospel, or even one spiritual truth, and ask God to open your eyes so that you can “see” the truth of this promise. Allow God’s spiritual truth to trump your physical reality. Believe in Jesus and His words – “see” His Word as your reality.Meditate on Scripture – II Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) – So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.