1Timothy 1:13-15 - ... I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

We all start in darkness, blindness, ignorance, unbelief and denial. But God...

Oh, that unbelief. We can know who Jesus is and still not have belief. Even churches vary in their beliefs. Some teach unsound doctrine, twist scripture or teach outright falsities. It's why we need to know Jesus and the truth of His Word, not a man's.

So here we have the Apostle Paul. He admits to have been (one of) the worst of the worst. He has shared a lot in the Epistles of the New Testament of his conversion, the truth that was revealed to him, the change that took place and his eventual dedication to God and sharing of the Gospel wherever he was sent.

We think we know it all. We think we know what we need to know for right now, today, for whatever suits us. There is a world beyond ourselves and our wants. Sure, we need money, food, a house and transportation. God allows us certain niceties too.

However, it’s not about the here and now but about eternity. It's about all of us sinners that Jesus came to die for. The Bible says, For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (1John 2:16)  We have things in this world to get us by, but our eternal life is what is most important. Ask anyone who has gotten dreadful health news or gone bankrupt or everything lost in a fire. Sometimes we have to lose something in order to know what’s most important. Jesus said this: For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36)  Nothing more important than your soul. The Word says to lose is to gain.

The Bible also shows us that if we choose to trust in Christ, all we need (not want) will be given to us, those things necessary for life. Through our knowledge of Him and gaining His wisdom we realize the important things. We’ll be satisfied with basics. I don’t care about the size of my house but I do so enjoy seeing what’s outside the windows. To watch God's creation grow, flourish, fade and die knowing it will start all over again! Wow. God doing what He does.

So, where am I heading with these thoughts?? I was a sinner saved by the grace and mercy of our God. I had nothing to contribute to this but accepting His offer. The truth of Christ became part of my life. I see what’s most important. I love that I can talk directly to God and know He hears and even answers requests. I love that there are people in my life who share this wisdom, who can spend time talking about the things of God, who just understand. There’s a unity and it’s center cord is Christ. Had it not been for Him I’d still be in darkness, blindness, ignorance, unbelief and denial. We can all have those conversion moments, maybe not all like Paul’s, but it can happen. We are all ignorant of the real truth until we really yearn for it.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus...(1Timothy 2:3-5)

1John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

But Now I See

John‬ ‭9:25‬ ‭- He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

I began reading a book called Jewish Culture and Customs by Steve Herzig. He a Messianic Jew meaning He has become a believer in Jesus Christ! While the book is about customs and culture the first chapter explains how Herzig became a believer after a life of Judaism and "kosherness." 

He questioned his believing sister one day after giving his life to the Lord, How do you know that you are born again? He questioned because he didn't feel any different. Her answer was that God would make HIM the best person HE could be and not to compare himself with others. And he stated that he now understood what the scripture above meant.

The blind man from John 9 is a wonderful story of healing, not just physical but spiritual. Only one who is born again will fully understand it.

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” ‭‭(John‬ ‭9:1-3‬)

Like this man, we are all born spiritually blind. We did not ask for this. We are blind until God reveals Himself to us. It's a personal thing. It can happen at any time, anywhere. But it comes only through an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Somehow He starts poking at your spirit. He might send a person or persons into your life who agitate! They press spiritual things on you, like attending church, or talking about their church and Bible studies they attend. This happened to me and I was agitated.

Then one day you completely fall apart. You can no longer resist His urgings. And He walks into your life and you don't know at first what hit you. With that the scripture above becomes reality.

I can't say I was fully aware immediately that my sight had come to me but I saw things differently. I had a desire to know things. I understood when I studied the Bible. I understood, in time, what being born again meant. The eyes of my heart were open to the things of God. And it was addicting.

Like I said, until we have this type of encounter with Christ we will continue to be blind. We will read what God's Word has to say and for the most part get it from one level. In Christ, with His Spirit in us we will begin to understand more, but we will never understand everything. The more we want to learn, however, the more He will reveal. A pastor can help but we are not to rely on just a man for our spiritual understanding. We go directly, humbly, to our God and His Word and He will show us.

I am so thankful for God's relentless bugging me! It took years and I remember the day before how I so strongly resisted only to receive Him the next morning. I feel ashamed at times for the resistance but I know I had to go through it to realize where I had been and where I am now.

It's not good to resist. We are to resist the devil and flee from him...but not resist and flee from God. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Then our sermon in church yesterday was about the parable of the sower. The Word of God is preached and it can fall on four types of ground: the wayside, hard and impenetrable; stony places with little earth; thorny places where the growth of the seed is choked out; good ground where the seed will be nourished. Which soil has the Word fallen on in your life? Listen to what Jesus said: In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. (Matthew‬ ‭13:14-16‬)

This is the miracle of new birth. Once blind, we see. We are all born blind sinners until we have an encounter with Jesus and become healed. Then others will see and know what God has done. He gets the glory. I'd love to hear testimonies!!!

April 18, 1999   (my testimony)

John‬ ‭9:26-27‬ ‭- Then they [religious leaders] said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
‭‭

All One Needs

Isaiah 61:1-3 - “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, 

Because the LORD has anointed Me 

To preach good tidings to the poor; 

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, 

To proclaim liberty to the captives, 

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, 

And the day of vengeance of our God; 

To comfort all who mourn, 

To console those who mourn in Zion, 

To give them beauty for ashes, 

The oil of joy for mourning, 

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; 

That they may be called trees of righteousness, 

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Who is Me in the above prophetic word? A prophetic word about Himself that Jesus

repeated to the anger and offense of some men when He preached them in a synagogue as His ministry first began. He did all the things listed. Go over them one by one. He did them all.

Our God, high and lifted up, watches from His throne of righteousness as men go their own way, do their own thing, apart from Him. He watches as they destroy life as it was intended to be. He knows His judgment must come to them. Yet He hopes they will turn and regard Him once again as Creator, Redeemer, Provider...their God. He desires their affection over the temporal things of this world. He desires they seek wisdom over folly. He desires obedience over sacrifice and humility over pride.

Why do some go against the things of God? How do they not see their Creator, the name above all names, in all that surrounds them? How do they take all of life into their own hands? How do they not see that they contribute to evil, which can be blatant or no more than turning God aside? How do they not see what is true, pure and just? How is pride of life so much greater than the things God has given us? Pride comes before the fall, we are told. (Proverbs 16:18)

Only God offers life abundantly. Only He gives eternal life. Man, in general, seeks only the things they find satisfy them in the here and now. When what today isn't enough, what about tomorrow? What will they seek then? What more will satisfy? 

Even the Church has sought their own ways seeking entertainment and soft words that leave one unprepared for tomorrow. They find no value in the simplicity, comforting and sometimes hard words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Word is not enough. Their senses have to be heightened. You know who does that? For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)  His name does not need to be spoken. 

This is what is in the world. All about me, my feelings, my dreams, my desires...apart from God. Life in Christ is all one needs. Search for all the riches in the world but they won't preserve a life. Seek prominence in the world; when all is said and done that prominence, after death, will eventually be forgotten. All things come to an end...unless one knows Christ. He brings eternal life. 

What good is having it all in this life when one does not first have the Lord? What does one cling to when all else is taken away, when sickness invades? When riches diminish, when life gets dicey, when evil surrounds and destroys? What hope does one cling to then? Life in Christ is all one needs. He supplies all riches in glory. But one must know Him to receive the glorious things He has for all.

But there is an evil one who has blinded the eyes of many. They cannot see the cliff they are headed for. They do not see the wisdom in Christ. They do not believe the promises of God. They do not see. They are blind. Like the song says, I once was blind but now I see... Like Jesus when He healed the blind man: One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25) 

I was blind more than half my life. I was born that way. We all are. Oh, we see in the natural, but we do not see spiritually until Jesus opens our eyes to the miraculous things of God. Nothing looks the same. The evils of the world become visible and disheartening. The things of God become clearer and comforting. We see that the Lord has more for us than the world. 

It's hard living in this world when others don't "see" like you. When there's opposition to all good things and you see God, His name, His truths, His Word denied. And the days are growing darker. Blindness enlarges while truth fades. I'm so thankful, despite "seeing" all this happen in the world, that I know the Lord. I'm so thankful that I can say the same as the blind man, "One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." I did nothing on my own to receive my sight. There is a darkness that has been pervading our world. It is rapidly taking over. The blind will not be able to have the chance to see some day. God is turning them over to their own lustful desires (Romans 1:24).

While there is still a glimmer of light, I pray many will take advantage of it. That they will seek Jesus, seek the truth and allow their blind eyes to be opened. There is still time individually and corporately. But the days are dwindling. The light in this world is fading. Evil is taking over. But there is One who still holds out for the last few, to open their eyes.

John 9:3-5 - Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of 

Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

LIES, LIES, LIES

John 8:43-45 - Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 

I was deeply saddened this morning. To the point of weeping and crying out to God and screaming at the enemy for all the damnable lies he has thrust upon the people of this world all these years.

When I speak of "we" I speak in generalities. I was once part of the "we" group. This "we" group gets larger and larger as the days go on. As I write I'm torn between anger, frustration and grief over those I know who are victims of satan's lies.

Oh, people, understand that we have so walked opposed to God and we don't even know it. We believe the lies. We fall prey to the stupid...no, wretched...lies that anything God says, anything He has commanded, is wrong and not to be paid attention to. It's passé. Ancient history. Times have changed. Well, times have changed but our God has not. He is still the same today as He was when He created this world and all that is in it...and wrote commandments that we should live by.

We do not like, nor do we listen to, what God has to say anymore. Or at least the majority of the people do not. There is a remnant adhering to the things of God, those narrow path walkers. The rest...sadly, and why I'm filled with remorse this morning, want nothing to do with Him. Some do not want to know they are wrong in some of their beliefs. Others just follow what others have said. They have not dug for answers themselves. They are blind to the truth that sets people free keeping them bound in the chains the enemy has wrapped around their hearts and minds.

Hear my heart: Without the truth these lives will be lost forever in the great day when Jesus Christ returns. If I have remorse I can't imagine what God must feel. He loves greater than I ever could.

Whatever we see happening in this world is all a byproduct of the enemy's lies. Pride, greed, lust, anger...just a very few of the sins that control this world. Pride in thinking we are so great when we are not, that we can do whatever we want because we are who WE say we are and no one will tell us otherwise. Lust and greed just naturally follow our pride. Anger that anyone would confront us with truth.

There is no man worthy of anything. Yes, we do good things, patriotic things, honorable things. Sometimes it is for very good reasons. But it is still not enough in God's eyes unless in anything we do we give God the glory. You see, it's always been all about God.

Why all this? Briefly, I was stirred when I saw a post on Facebook which is pro abortion that a friend "liked." I read the malicious comments. I knew deep in my heart these people are so unaware. I'm saddened by the belief that what is so wrong is so right to some. The devil has so blinded them. God specifically states that some things are wrong. Others don't see it... Have I missed the mark here and there? Oh, yes. And for that I am truly sorry. But when these deep-seated tears came this morning, I knew they are just the tip of the amount of remorse and sadness God Himself feels. He knows the life's end of unbelievers. He wants none to perish. Sadly, some will.

It all boils down to what we have seen creeping, now catapulting...the lack of God in lives. I assume some have had so many issues because of the fallen world we live in that they have shaken their fist at Him instead of embracing Him for His strength and guidance through the truth of His Word. They may not understand why He allows bad to happen to good people. Again...none of us are good. None. None... When sin entered this world, we were all deemed sinners. Some find Christ; some do not.

I also know it ain't gonna get better. It's only going to get worse. Lord, strengthen me...strengthen us. We who know You as Lord and Savior need your strength to withstand all that is going to come at us. The persecution for our "narrow" beliefs which are Your truth. Give us the right words to speak, in love. I thank You, Lord, for being on what You call the narrow path that leads to life. I pray for those who are on the wide path where lies abound. That path leads to destruction. There are many I know on that path. Open their eyes. Open my eyes even further also, even if it hurts all the more to see others drifting away while I draw closer. Draw me closer, Lord. Draw others. 

Jesus was falsely accused and crucified. He did it on His own for each of us. All we need to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, to trust Him for our lives, to listen to His words of truth. To be set free from spiritual death. To see what truth actually is. There are people all over weeping as I wept today. I pray the Spirit of God would move.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight...who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent...for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭20-21,24‬)

For Judgment I Have Come

John 9:34-41

They answered and said to him, "You [the blind man] were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then he said, " Lord, I believe!" And he worshipped Him.

And 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." 

Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains."


The Pharisees now began to berate the blind man for the truth he told...that they could not believe: He was blind but now he saw. They cast him out of the temple for this statement. And what about those who are in a relationship with Christ today and say the same thing, I once was blind but now I see? 

Hmm, they were pretty much trying to cast Jesus out also for what they believed to be blasphemy. The Truth stood before them; they heard Him speak, saw Him do miracles, but they could not get beyond what they had always known. The Truth stood before them!

As stated, Jesus found the man and wanted him to know for a fact who He was and who had healed him. Oh, Lord, that people would ask, "Who is He, that I may believe in Him?" That they might begin to see like the blind man because you have opened their spiritual yes and the eyes of their hearts to the knowledge of You. That they might shout, "Lord, I believe!" And worship You.

Jesus makes an odd statement, that those who are blind might see but those who can might be made blind. Think about it. The man was blind, healed and now could see. He knew a miracle had occurred and was willing to believe. Those who are able to see, in the natural, who have seen or heard how others changed yet believe it's something "those people" needed but not themselves will be judged by Jesus and forever made blind. We all need Jesus.

It is God's desire that all should believe and be saved, but that will not happen. There will always be some who just can't or won't do it. And for that reason they will be judged. When one is determined not to believe in God or not to believe a relationship with Christ is necessary, nor believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives, one remains spiritually blind. ...with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved, ...for this reason God will send them a strong delusion that they should believe the lie... (2Thessalonians 2:10-11)

As was testified in church yesterday, God will open doors for us to witness to others. Even those hard-hearted who do not want to hear might come to a place in their lives when they "give in." Their hearts are finally willing to hear and believe the truth of Christ. We must never give up in prayer. We must always be aware of God's leading, His guidance. The timing will be perfect if in His will. God would rather not judge against. Do not say you see, yet see not, by forsaking Christ.

Ezra 8:22 - ..."The hand of our God is upon all them for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those those who forsake Him.” 

It's Called Faith

John 9:17-33

They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes" he said, "He is a prophet." But the Jews did not believe concerning him., that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight.

And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself."

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! we know that this Man is a sinner." He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples we know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." 

The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."


I'm certain this lengthy account of the blind man is long for one reason...it is important that God make a point about blindness and skepticism regarding eyes today being opened spiritually.

We see again the angst among the Jews. They had no answer for the miracle of a blind man's eyes being opened. They didn't want to hear or believe Jesus...who claimed to be the Son of God, or believe He could do this miracle. All they wanted was a scrap of evidence to accuse Him of sinning and blasphemy so they could do away with Him according to their understanding of the laws.

They just couldn't believe the blind man so they went to his parents who sent them back to the now seeing man. Aren't we like this sometimes? Skeptical of one's beliefs...especially when it comes to God? You say Jesus is the only way? Prove it. You say He is absolute truth? Prove it. You say only He brings eternal life? Prove that, too. What about my way? What about my beliefs? Why can't there be more than one way? 

It is a narrow road Jesus walks on. It's why this is in the Bible. We don't always want to be told this. I struggle with the thoughts I want to write. There seems to be a deep knowing or confidence/assurance in my belief that so go beyond the words I believe. I'm not trying to sound super spiritual. This happens when you come to Christ and know that you know the way, truth and life is through Jesus alone. It's called faith.

While we all know what faith is but here's the definition anyway: strong belief or trust in someone or something; belief in the existence of God; strong religious feelings or beliefs; a system of religious beliefs. We can have faith in things other than God, but that faith can surely fail. God will not.

Like the blind man said: "This is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!" I concur with this statement. I marvel at my knowing Christ. I marvel that He took me to a different place in my life, that He opened my spiritual eyes, that I might see Him for who He is, like the blind man. He's right here for all to see but not all do.

He loves, forgives, heals, sets free, encourages, supplies, protects. He is all we need. He is a wonder. Yet some have a hard time taking Him seriously. It is such a thrill to read His Word and know that He speaks to us through it. He commands, enlightens, rebukes, desires. He wants only that all know Him. His desire is that all should be saved. Look outside right now. You can see His glory. It's all around us. Sometimes we see but do not comprehend. Let this be the day your eyes are opened.

Matthew 13:14-15 - And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 

hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

and seeing you will see and not perceive.

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. 

Their ears are hard of hearing, 

and their eyes they have closed, 

lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, 

lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, 

so that I should heal them.

A Division Among Them

John 9:14-16

Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."

Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.


Wow. Here we go again. More division. Jesus had a knack for this! And Jesus a sinner?

The Pharisees again needed to hear, perhaps to be sure they had ample argument against Jesus, how this blind man was healed by Him.

Jesus wanted people to know Him. He wanted them to know that He was the Son of God. He wanted them to know that He was greater than all the sacrifices that had been made for the sins of the people. That He was going to become the once-for-all-sacrifice for our sins. He was willing to endure the comments, untruths. He hoped to open the eyes of these men, too.

What happens when others attempt to show what Jesus has done in their lives? Not all respond favorably. That's good enough for you, but not me. I don't need God. My life is fine the way it is. The world is tangible; I can see, touch, smell everything. I will put my trust in what I can put my finger on. We can't even see God.

Jesus came to turn the world upside down. He came to show the world if we trust in what is unseen (Jesus), our lives are more secure. Isn't that an upside down statement?  ...while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Corinthians 4:18)

The issue here was that Jesus did a miracle on the Sabbath, their holy day, a day of rest.That was unheard of in Jewish tradition. Jesus was not part of their tradition but a new way! This was a bone of contention for these men. He was upsetting their ways. How could this Man who claimed to be the Son of God, who knew the laws, do this? Isn't that a sin? They could not see that a new way (Way) was before them. We are called to all have teachable spirits...

While God took a day of rest after creating all things, I'm certain in Jesus' day He did not mean not to heal...or be about the Father's business if He so commanded. The day of rest then, and now, is to be a day devoted to God. A day of rest from work. We can still devote every day to God through our lives and our prayers, our communication with Him. If He urges us to do something, we do it, even if it's on that day of "rest."

All the Jewish religious leaders were challenged because they only knew what they had been required to do generation after generation. They might have felt their responsibilities would be in jeopardy because of this one Man. Their power was at stake. Who would listen to them, who would abide by their rules if this Man changed people's way of thinking? All Jesus wanted was for them to understand. I wonder how their lives might have changed had they believed? What changes might we have seen?

Rules and works...legalism. Today as then we need to realize we cannot do works to please God or enter His kingdom. We cannot buy our way or work our way to heaven. We must believe and have faith in God alone. Not a man, nor his ideas. Then our works are deemed good. Jesus was upsetting the Pharisees' apple cart. Part of what they had always adhered to was looking like it was about over. The laws, however, were still intact; God wouldn't change the commands. But He was about to change the means of entering the kingdom through one Sacrifice instead of endless ones which never achieved permanent forgiveness of sins.

But Jesus would and still does be that end-all sacrifice. By Christ alone. No works, no being good enough. A way made that even the most hardened criminal can enter the kingdom if he, with all his heart, turns to Christ and allows Him to transform his life. Imagine that. The person(s) one might so never want to forgive, God will. That's His job! (We ARE called to forgive...even our enemy.)

Like the blind man, we must "see." We must put our faith and trust into Jesus alone. The world nor the traditions of man have anything eternal to offer. If we think like a Pharisee we will stay lost. If we allow Jesus to transform our mind, we will be saved. In Christ alone.

I "saw" fifteen years ago. He touched my life and I knew it. I'm so thankful for Jesus allowing me, a blind person, to see.

Colossians 2:8-10 - Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

How Were Your Eyes Opened?

John 9:8-13

Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is this he who sat and begged?" Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he." 

Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" He answered and said, " A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and received my sight."

Then they said, "Where is He" he said, "I do not know." They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees.


Previously in John 9 Jesus restored the sight to a man who had been born blind.

Here those who knew this man questioned the whole event. Is this he who was blind? Yes. Or someone like him. The man himself exclaimed it was he. Two thoughts go through my head: It's like Jesus claiming Who He was and people in various places of belief or disbelief. And like when one is born again, is changed and others find it hard to believe...or wonder why they had to change. Is this he/she who used to _____ (fill in the blank)?

The big question is, How were your eyes opened? Or how will they be if they have not been? In this case it was an unconventional means, spit and dirt! My testimony will be different from someone else's. We are "captured" when and where we will "see" and understand we have been touched by God. He is amazing.

The next step this once blind man was to do was go and wash. Reminds me of baptism. We are called to step out in faith and when we do, He becomes real to us. Without physically seeing Him today, we see spiritually. We know with our whole being we have been touched by God. Our eyes were opened and we see...and we share what we know.

1John 1:2-4 - ...the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Blind From Birth

John 9:1-7

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 

Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

When He said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.


No pun intended but, the way I see it, we are all born blind from birth. We are in a spiritual blindness until we hear of, believe in and receive Christ. As He says here, He is the light of the world.

When we are spiritually blind we live in darkness of the things of heaven. When the truth of Jesus Christ shines upon us and we receive Him by faith, as this blind man did, doing as Christ said by doing no more than going and washing his eyes at a particular pool, we receive our sight. He becomes our light.

As was also pointed out, again, we are born spiritually blind so that when we meet Christ the works of God will be revealed in and through us when we receive Him. Words from a popular hymn:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

It takes an action to receive Christ. We must go...and be washed in His blood.

I think of Saul who persecuted Christians until He met Christ on the road to Damascus. God blinded Him. But he knew he had met God, had seen the light (of the world) and his life was turned around miraculously.

The name Saul means desired. Perhaps Saul's desire was to persecute but perhaps God desired for him to be changed. God's glory would be seen in the miracle. Saul's name was then changed to Paul which means small. Paul no longer looked at himself as this giant of a persecutor but as a man who now humbled himself before God and powerfully preached Christ. A miracle. God's glory seen.

I love this account. How God can open blind eyes that we might see Him as He should be seen, that we can worship Him in spirit and in truth. The light of the world now part of our lives.

The Jews could not understand. They were spiritually blind to the truth. They understood the laws of the Old Testament but they could not see that Christ was there to bring newness of life, through faith in  Him, not death through rules, regulations, works. Praise God for Jesus, the Way.

2Corinthians 4:3-4 - But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Truth Revealed

Ephesians 3:8 - To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ...


What a mouthful of scripture, but so rich in its content. A scripture came to mind as I sat outside to spend some time with the Lord. Right now I can't recall which it was but it took me into the Book of Ephesians. I read chapters 1-4.


The Apostle Paul was talking to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus. There was a note in my margin which said that saints meant anyone who believes Jesus Christ is Lord. Paul's history was he had once been Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, whose name brought
terror...and now he was so totally on fire, so sold out to Jesus, but he feared not for his life and often preached from prison for his preaching Christ.


I absorbed the words that followed. Paul was describing to the Ephesians what happens when one receives Christ. It's what is available to any who choose to bow to the Lord Jesus Christ, who desire relationship with this Man.

• God chose us before the foundation of the world (those who would receive Christ)
• We were predestined for adoption by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (this is a very great privilege!!)
• We have redemption through His blood, forgiveness of sins according to His grace
• He has made known to us (as true believers) the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure
• We will be gathered together in the last days with all others with the same conviction and beliefs
• We have an inheritance because of this predestination 
• He has worked all things according to His will
• We trust in Him because we have heard the truth about salvation
• We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise upon our conversion and this guarantees our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (in other words, until Jesus returns, our inheritance is secure...as long as we maintain our trust and faith in Him)
• God is rich in mercy and love and it is because of this we have been made alive...no longer dead in our sins, which is the way of the world
• We have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus only, a gift from God
• Works will not save us because we are liable to boast about the good we've done
• Upon salvation we are created in Christ Jesus FOR good works which God has prepared for us
• He alone is our peace
• Jesus alone has taken away the wall of separation between God and us and granting us peace
• We have overcome eternal death when we received Jesus
• This is for all people; once anyone has received Christ we become one body through the power of the Holy Spirit
• Christ is now the chief cornerstone in the new body of Christ, those who have received Him
• We are fellow heirs through Christ, of the same body, partakers of His promise

Paul knew nothing about these things when he was Saul of Tarsus. He fought against Christ and against Christians. But now he relishes in the the mysteries of Christ which have been revealed to him through his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus. He needed to be blinded before he could see. This is each and every person before they come into true contact with Jesus Himself, when He calls and one receives. When that call is heard and a heart is moved into receiving His call.

What will it take for the world to see? The world, for the most part, is blind. What tragedy will have to take place before God opens eyes to see Him for who He is? What mysteries He will unveil. It's what I've spoken of before...through the power of His Holy Spirit things of God are revealed. Truth is revealed. Truth that opens eyes to what is happening in this world and how the world believes in men, their own strengths, their own (supposed) knowledge. How the world sees right as wrong and good as evil. Truth reveals the rights and wrongs in this world, in government, in religion. What we as a world have allowed to become okay out of the premise of not offending. It's a truth that cannot be explained, only experienced.

Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth and Life. Only He reveals the truth. He holds the keys to eternal life. He removes the veil that separates us from God the Father. Bear with me in this closing scripture! It's for anyone who desires a relationship with Him.

Ephesians 3:14-19 - For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Blind

John 9:25 - ...One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.

We are delving into chapters 8 and 9 of John next week. Jesus is more assertively telling the people, and being questioned repeatedly by the Pharisees, who He is. There is division. The Pharisees have this preconceived idea who He should be, where He should come from and it upsets them that He is indifferent to their understanding of the laws Moses taught (which especially meant no work on the Sabbath).

He came to show us: He is the light of the world. He can testify about Himself because He knows where He came from and where He will return...He and His Father are one. He comes from above. Sounding a bit like any politician having to dispute accusations, Jesus has to say He does not have a demon in Him and He only does what His Father tells Him to do. He knows His Father. He claims "I am."

You have  to understand that the statement I AM seemed blasphemous to the religious leaders because I AM is speaking of God and who is this Man who claims He is God.

Jesus heals again on the Sabbath when He recovers a blind man's sight. For this He is called a sinner. In the end He says: 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).

This scripture tells us that those who hear about Him and believe and follow will have their spiritual eyes opened. They once were blind but now they see...like the blind man claimed in front of the Pharisees.

But there's more to this. Those who see, hear or are confronted with Jesus and reject Him, although they see, their spiritual eyes will be blinded to the truth if they reject Him. Isaiah 6:9-10 describes what Isaiah prophesied long before Jesus even was born. It speaks to what will happen to those who take lightly the claims of Jesus, who follow their own ways, who avoid the narrow path He demands:

And He [God] said, "Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’  Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." 

In other words, “Do not try to understand or see...see what I (God) will do then.” Sounds like a judgmental and harsh God. He is, as well as He is loving. He loves so much and He tries so hard to get people’s attention. However, He will never force Himself on anyone, but will in time leave them to their own devices...dulling their hearts and ears. He requires righteousness...through Jesus Christ. Reject the Son, reject the Father.

An interesting explanation of the meaning of light of the world: as long as I am in the world. Meaning, as long as He was in the world He was the light; when He departed, He left His Spirit to convict people of their sins and to empower His followers to be the light. 

The Pharisees knew the teachings on light. They understood God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality, Strong’s Bible Concordance tells us. They did not accept Jesus as God. God to them was without sin; they wrongly and foolishly accused Jesus of being a sinner because of some of the things He said and did they did not agree with.

Isaiah 60:19 - the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.

Exodus 13:21 - And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

He had always been there for them. But not Jesus is claiming the same thing. For some reason they just could not “see” Jesus as that light. Another definition for light of the world is Messiah. Their human perception would not allow them to see Him this way. 

We are all born with spiritual blindness. There are lights shining all throughout this world who proclaim the name of Jesus. These lights will never be put out until He returns. Then there is little hope in receiving Him. Spiritual blindness cannot be irradicated except through Christ alone.

Matthew 13:19 - When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

Blindness, Truth and Hope

John 9:25 - He (a blind man) answered, “Whether He (Jesus) is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

Glenn Beck? Going blind? We heard him tell us. We heard the pain in his voice. How would you feel if this type of news came to you? It wouldn't have to be blindness but that one thing that would take away your ability to do the thing you enjoy the most. For Glenn...he loves to read. Going blind poses a threat. 

Despite the news he received, he stated he still has hope. And so can we all if we have Jesus Christ in our lives.

Beck has been laying himself open about how he believes if this country doesn't change its ways soon, there will be no hope for us. We have taken God out of most things. We have forsaken the truth for a lie. Gee, that sounds familiar: Romans 1:25 - They exchanged God's truth for a lie and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator...  I realize this is referring to worshipping idols or things rather than God, but I also see this as meaning we should not replace God's truth with our own misconceived truths, our own ways, our own lives. 

Where have the lies come from? They've come slowly and benignly. We have listened to what seems one harmless lie after another and they have been assimilated into our beliefs.  We now wonder how we have gotten where we are. Beck has been exposing these lies. I'm paraphrasing, but he said, "We only have hope if we know the truth." For goodness sake, I've heard that before too.

What message was Jesus trying to convey all throughout His teachings? The only way to the Father is by the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus, as I know I've mentioned more than once, is the Truth. The only hope we have for eternal life is through the Truth of who Jesus Christ is and our relationship with Him. Not our truths, not our ways, not our own lives.

So what has this to do with Beck's going blind? He once was blind, but now he sees. He knows the truth and that has taken away the blindness, both in this country and spiritually. He may be physically going blind (and I pray it doesn't happen) but spiritually he is still able to see. He has the knowledge of God behind him.

When all hope fails in lives or this country, it is my prayer that people will finally see what Truth is. Beck may be in the throes of this bad news, but his attitude is what will get him through. He strongly believes that no matter what happens, with God he will be able to continue...there is hope. God got him through his addiction to alcohol, which he has clearly said he could never have gotten over on his own. So Beck believes that no matter what, he will get through whatever it is he must go through in this next set of circumstances. 

Those who know God have an upper edge because of the truth we have learned. And those of us who know what Truth is have a hope of our own. I'm sure I could be criticized for saying that. I, too, once was blind and now I see. The truth of who Christ is opens eyes. And when His truth penetrates into the recesses of our heart and soul, nothing looks the same. It's absolutely amazing and only something a person can understand when they have experienced and take to heart the power of God in their lives. 

There are many who don't want to listen to Glenn Beck because the truth sometimes hurts. It can cause us to want to retreat into our own little worlds where only good things happen. We can bury our heads in the sand...until it's too late. Doom and gloom or truth? It's all how a person perceives it.

It's the same with Jesus. When He speaks the truth it can convict us of our wrongs. If we hear the Truth we might have to change. Rejection can take place so lives can remain as is and holding on to what seems good remains. If we don't listen to Him personally or to those who speak of Him, we can "play dumb." What's that old saying? "What you don't know can't hurt you." I disagree. What you don't know can hurt you. It's the difference between life and death spiritually. 

Jesus is worth knowing because He is Truth. He's there for the asking, for the receiving and accepting. He will open the eyes of the blind...those people who have not yet had their spiritual eyes opened to His truth, the truth of who He is. We are all born blind and we remain blind until the words of Truth enter in and begin to transform. Those blind eyes are opened and oh, the gloriousness of it all!

I truly empathize for Beck. I'm sure he will find his way through all this and I don't doubt he'll not mince words in any way. Sometimes tragedies bring an even stronger resolve. If Beck truly trusts in God he has all the hope in the world (and beyond) to strengthen him. As he has said, he knows that no matter what happens, there will be a good ending to it. I give him credit for speaking up...for the truth we need to know about our country and speaking openly about God.

Those who know Christ know this is the truth: tragedy or death may come, but what does it matter? If one has a relationship with Christ we can look both in the eye (no pun intended) and see beyond our circumstances here on earth to the day we are received in heaven by Christ's outstretched hand. Earth is only temporary.

I once was blind, but now I see. Nothing can take away my sight spiritually. Physical blindness might only enhance the vision of who the most important Person is. For that matter, any disability can do that. God has admonished us Himself, whether a person wants to take it as truth or not. Remember, He is our Heavenly Father. He longs for all of us to return home to Him. He wishes for us to have the blinders removed against Him. He may have been addressing the priests of the Old Testament, but this word below is for us well. Without knowledge of God we are nothing; we are blind...to the truth.

Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests, because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.