Double Vision?
Many of us know the difficulty in dealing with vision issues. We wear the required devices (accoutrements), also known as glasses or contacts, so that we might see as we should when our sight is altered by age, disease, or just the simple fact that we have eyes that don’t work as effectively as they once did. We probably all as children, have crossed our eyes in order to see double. This seems innocent enough because as soon as we allow our eyes to return to normal, our double vision dissipates. This all is something that takes place with our physical being.
But, have we ever considered one can have “double vision” spiritually? It is not something the Lord sanctions. In the physical and spiritual realm, one must have light for vision to occur. In Luke 11:33-36 Jesus spoke of both light and sight. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. The light of which Jesus spoke at this point was a candle. The vision to which He referred was “single”. He was contrasting the “single” eye with the “evil” eye. He then pointed out that the “light” is necessary to keep the evil at bay. The one who lacks the light – the proper kind of light – are the ones that suffer from “spiritual” double-vision. Those who have 20/20 spiritual vision are those who keep the “light of the world” in them.
In John 8:12, Jesus said: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. He was speaking to the Pharisees following the episode in which the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman supposedly caught in the act of adultery to test the Lord. Then we also have the record of the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew. Just following the Beatitudes, in Matthew 5:14-16 we find the Lord stating that His disciples were the “light of the world”. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This is not double-talk as in both of these passages, Jesus is speaking of the same light and the same source of light. As long as Jesus was on earth, He was (is) the light of the world. When He finished what His Father sent Him to earth to do, His disciples were to be the light. We know this is true because in Acts 13:47 Paul and Barnabas were “light” to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. Then we see in the following verse what this “light” is. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
God is the source of light. He sent His Son to earth to shine the light. The Lord sent the Spirit to deliver that light to the apostles to deliver to all men. In John 16:13 Jesus promised them the Comforter to “guide them into all truth”. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. We also know from Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus commissioned the apostles to begin to preach the message of truth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. This was to continue with all the Lord’s disciples in the church.
If His Word is truth, and the truth is light, then His Word is light. If we will walk in the light we shall have “single” vision. Our focus will be on seeing as God would have us see. This is the message of 1John 1:5-7. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Get your “spiritual vision” checked today. Walk in the light – Walk in His Word. Obey His Word. Don’t walk in the darkness of sin – Don’t suffer with spiritual double vision. See things as God would have you see them.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
