Have you ever attempted a Magic Eye Illusion? Hidden within a collection of patterns, colors, and shapes is an image that is revealed through staring and eye crossing. There are some people who can see the hidden image with no trouble. For others it takes some practice and hard work but eventually they are able to accomplish the task. And then there are those who, try as they might, are never able to see what the illusion has to offer. Throughout the Bible there are people mentioned who have “eyes to see but cannot see”. Jesus and the prophets found themselves right in the midst of people with this condition (Ez. 12:2). It wasn’t that they were blind physically but spiritually they just could not see what they ought to. God is continually at work around us and we have the opportunity to testify to He is doing in our world and our lives but in order to proclaim this work we have to have our eyes opened to see.
Scripture diagnoses those who can’t see in 2 Corinthians 4:4. Paul says here, “in [the case of those who are perishing] the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Paul is not talking about a physical blindness here but a spiritual one. The unbeliever’s mind has been blinded from seeing Jesus. They don’t understand the praises brought to Christ, the joy celebrated, or the love confessed because they don’t see Him as their Savior. Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind. At the start of His ministry when Jesus reads from the Scriptures He proclaims this truth, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind…” (Luke 4:18). Yes, Jesus would bring physical sight to the blind but Jesus also came to open the spiritual eyes of those who don’t believe. Jesus did this so that they would know the One true God and believe. In John 12:45, Jesus says, “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.” In Luke 10:23, Jesus calls those “blessed” who are able to see the Son of God and Father. They are blessed because God has done a work within them; opening their eyes to see the glory of His work in the gospel and the truth of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:5-6).
Those with eyes opened have the opportunity to look around them and see God’s work in all things. His hand is in everything from our salvation to our struggles. God is at work in our lives but sometimes we have a hard time seeing this truth. When Paul prays for the Ephesian church in Ephesians 1:18, he prays that the eyes of their hearts would see all that they have in Jesus. He’s praying for those believers in such a way that they would see the amazing work that God has done for them through Jesus. When the Psalmist prays in Ps. 119:18, he prays that his eyes would be opened to behold wonderful things from God’s Word. Both Paul and the Psalmist know the importance of having their eyes opened to see all that God is doing. There are times as Christians our eyesight may be poor which is why we need to be reminded to pray in this way. We also need to be reminded that God has been and continues to be very much at work. Just look at some of the places that we can see His work:
God’s work in our salvation (John 3:16; Eph. 2:1-10)
God’s work in our believing (John 6:28-29; 2 Cor. 4:4-6)
God’s work in our keeping His word (1 John 5:2-3)
God’s work in our difficulties, tragedies, and struggles (Job 37:13; Rom. 8:28; Rom. 11:36)
God’s work in our weather and His word (Is. 55:10-11)
There are countless other examples throughout Scripture of the work of God in us and surrounding us. My prayer is that God has opened your eyes to see who Jesus is and that He helps you each day to behold His hand at work. When you see God’s work, I pray that your response would be to proclaim the wonderful things you are seeing God do!
Looking Forward To Seeing More Of God’s Work, Pastor Rudy