Are We Spiritually Sighted?

[HKHaugan]

Are We Spiritually Sighted?

 The ability to see is one of the great gifts we have. Physical sight gives us a visual perspective that we could not have in any other way. But there is another kind of vision, spiritual vision, the kind of vision that sees in the invisible dimension. Jesus teaches using parables, “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ In them the prophecy of Isaiah (6:10) is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.…(Mt.13:13)”

 The kind of sight that gives us insight, spiritual insight, is what Jesus is describing. For instance, we can look at the ocean and see water. Perhaps we notice that when the wind blows, waves appear. Sometimes it causes whitecaps and monstrous swells crash on the boulder strewn shoreline. Plumes of spray fly everywhere. That’s what we physically see. But what else do we see? There is a beauty, a color arrayed mist as the sun catches a plume. It is the unseen reality that captures a composer’s attention to write a song, a symphony or simply someone’s gaze appreciating something within the pictured moment. The rolling sea, storms, crashing waves may offer a relational reference that makes life more meaningful. We see something in the physical that give us insight to what may be going on in our heart or some personal situation. We begin to see meaning behind physical images that carry over into our inner lives.

 Spiritually it’s the new sight we are given when we receive Jesus and see like He sees. It’s seeing all people as images of God. That’s basic to the new sight, spiritual sight. It’s seeing the creative hand of God having shaped the mountains, the valleys, the rivers and forests. Sight is what was given the people who were healed from blindness, crippled limbs, inner ailments and even forgiveness for sin. Perhaps it’s the insight the woman at Jacob’s Well had when Jesus spoke to her and had to share Him with her townspeople. This new sight sees pain in the anger, insults and injustice that make people feel alone and rejected. It’s seeing pride and boasting as a coverup for insecurity, especially in those whose profanity reflects the need to be seen as tough. Then there are those who bully others to appear in control when in reality they fear and even envy the inner qualities of the very people they attack.

 Jesus saw through people. Take the Pharisees for instance. Their methodology to keep control was to add their spin to the Law and pile more external measures of performance on the people. Their attempt to be in control only isolated them and drew Jesus’ displeasure at their legalistic game-playing and lack of spiritual humility. And that magnificent put down when He told them that whoever was without sin should throw the first stone at a woman caught in adultery. They knew they’d been had and realized their lack of sympathy was exposed and could only slink away in silent prideful anger in the knowing crowd around them. They cared more for their public appearance than the hurting hearts of others. Jesus knew what was on the minds of His enemies. He saw suffering as something to endure for His Father rather than escape its torment. In fact, He could see the real cause of suffering and the enemy that was working it behind the scenes, the devil and his sin.

 The question for us is, do we see the suffering in others and are we willing to step in and do something about it? Suffering is more than just physical. It is just as much emotional and spiritual as well. Many people may seem healthy in appearance but within there’s turmoil. It may be seen but avoided. People can sense something is amiss but the unpleasantness of not knowing what to do tends to find an excuse to escape. Distress, anger, a sad face, fake laughter, the constant jokester, the quiet ones, the timid, the physically impaired, the hostile, the superior, take your pick, it’s all around us if, and that is a big ‘if,’ we are willing to take the lead and step into whatever is there.

 All of these things are subjects for the spiritually sighted. The secular atmosphere breathes the toxic fumes of avoidance, flight, excuses and rationalization which those who spiritually see are called to enter. The spiritually sighted bring the cleansing air of the Holy Spirit to clear the fog and give breath to the suffering around us. They see the need for Jesus in the person they happen upon, or should we say, have been led to meet? Spiritual appointments are usually unexpected, a surprise in the making. For the spiritually sighted it is a moment of opportunity to share. It becomes a daily experience, expecting the unexpected. For the spiritually unsighted? They are just oblivious.

 This is why a disciple of Jesus is in the Word. Reading it, studying it and sharing it prepares the mind and heart for the unexpected. The unexpected is a call to exercise faith. Faith to step in. That’s where and when the Holy Spirit works best. Scripture keeps us spiritually alert and through it the Holy Spirit makes everything takes spiritual shape in our daily walk. Every encounter, every task, every question, every emotion can be a spiritually visual calling to engage our mind, heart and spirit within and without. It’s too look forward to every next moment. It’s to see what He sees, to spiritually adjust and be a witness. This is how Jesus walked through Galilee and how He’s calling us to walk our personal world.