“Do you see the number ‘86’ in the green color?” If you’ve ever had a thorough eye exam, you’ve likely been asked something like this question, along with a plethora of others to determine clarity, depth perception, distance, astigmatism, myopia and a host of other issues. Furthermore, when I was recovering from a concussion, I frequented an eye doctor who specialized in the interface between the eyes and brain, along with the associated complications that make vision processing all the more challenging. This specialist prescribed prism glasses for a season, and that was really helpful!
Without a doubt, vision is drastically more complicated than the six letters that symbolize the noun and verb! As we think about this, let’s consider that the way we see something is significantly shaped and affected by our interior. If we have myopia, it’s a struggle to see things at a distance, but our near vision can be very sharp. If we have astigmatism, it can be challenging to have accurate depth perception, such that things seem flat or lack dimension. If we have color blindness or cataracts, we may struggle to identify the full spectrum of colors. The way we see is affected and even defined by what’s inside of us.
I think this connects with what Jesus says in Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
I’ve thought about Jesus’ words for quite some time because I’m coming to realize that what I think and/or feel about a situation, person, etc. isn’t always defined by an objective observation. My thoughts and observations are significantly affected by what’s inside of me. When I’m insecure, it’s much easier for me to feel rejected or slighted. When I’m arrogant, I’m more inclined to see someone as inferior. When I’m fearful, I tend to hunker down and look for ways to protect myself. What’s going on inside of me can very often affect my perspective and, possibly, my decisions.
We would be wise to pause and reflect on our interior before we speak, react or engage in various situations. In this reflection time, we can consider what’s inside of us that could influence our perspective. Maybe our soul has lenses that affect our outlook and thinking. Additionally, some lenses for the soul can be helpful for clarity, truth and better alignment with Jesus’ words.
Maybe this is also what Jesus was describing in Matthew 7:3-5, when He was addressing the whole subject of being judgmental. In these verses, Jesus tells us to consider what could be clouding or affecting our vision before we position ourselves to take a speck out of someone else’s eye. If we have a judgment lens in our soul, through which we view others, then it’s probable that we are missing some ugly stuff in our own life. All of these things are important to think about. Selah.
As we come to the end of this blog post, let’s ask God to help us see life through the lens of being His son or daughter. Ultimately, this is our true identity, and living in this reality will help us engage from our divine design! Let’s celebrate godly vision!
