Fix My Eyes
My eyesight has been poor since I was a young girl. I got, and promptly lost, my first pair of glasses in fifth grade. It was an exciting day when I transitioned to contacts, but even they had their limits. They could not be worn while swimming (which I learned the hard way!) or sleeping, so there were still situations where I could not see clearly or had to wear my glasses. The yearly visit to the optometrist was a highlight. The eye exam would necessitate a tweak in my prescription and I would leave the doctor’s office with a new set of lenses. Everything was so much sharper, I felt like I could see every leaf on the trees and every blade of grass!
It reminds me of a comedic bit from one of our favorites, Brian Regan. He tells the story of going to his eye doctor to get new contacts after six years. When he came out of the doctor’s office with new lenses he said, “Wow! I coulda’ been seeing things! How could instantly improved vision not be on the top of your to-do list?!” It is a really good question, actually.
Periodically we all need a fix for our eyes. Our vision becomes distorted when we lose our focus on Christ and are consistently looking at things that distract, discourage, and delude us. Farsightedness causes the things close to us, the little things, to be out of focus, and nearsightedness similarly affects what we see at a distance, the bigger things. Neither condition provides an accurate picture of what we see. If left unchecked, poor vision can cause us to move slower, be unsure and unsteady, and even cause harm. If we cannot see clearly we can miss signs, the beauty of the seasons, and lose things that are important to us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith …
Heb. 12:1-2 (NIV)
Changing the object of our sight is exactly the fix we need. When we fix our eyes on Jesus we gain not just clear sight, but also correct perspective. We can see what we need to see in our lives, and we also see unwanted and unhelpful things that have accumulated in our lives and have become tangled around us. Jesus is the fix for our eyes that we all need.
The apostle Paul also wrote these words to the Corinthian church: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (II Cor. 4:18 NIV).” There are many things we cannot see but we know they exist by faith, not least of which is, “an eternal glory that outweighs,” every hardship, difficulty, tragedy, and trauma (II Cor. 4:17 NIV). The hope we have, the sure and eternal anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:19), is not something we can see with natural eyes. But when we have our eyes fixed on Jesus, we see, by faith, our source of hope, our way to heaven (John 14:6), and our help throughout our time on earth (Ps. 121:1, John 14:26). Eyes that are fixed on Jesus are fixed on eternal things with eternal value.
In contrast, all that we see with our natural eyes is temporary. Our homes, jobs, possessions, positions, and even our problems are all temporary. These things may have earthly, temporary value and may weigh heavily on our minds and take up space on our list. All their value, weight, and even their memory will, however, be outweighed by the glory of what God has prepared for our eternity.
How can instantly improved vision not be at the top of our list? If an eye fix is not at the top, what is? The apostle Paul describes with alarming accuracy the way sin sneaks, “so readily (deftly and cleverly),” into our lives and, “clings to and entangles us (Heb. 12:1 AMP).” Without regular thoughtful and prayerful eye exams we can find ourselves living without the proper vision and perspective that is provided to us through Jesus.
It is time for an evaluation, and examination, and correction for our eyes. Today is a great day to throw off what is weighing us down and holding us back. How do we do this? Sitting down for the eye exam is the first step. The practice of sitting with the Lord, reading His Word, meditating on it and praying, is a vital habit to maintain clear vision. Giving this time to Jesus is equal to giving Him first place. It was Martin Luther, when asked about the plans for his day, that said, “Work, work from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”
The chorus from this hymn by Helen H. Lemmel is my prayer today, for myself and for you:
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.
