Eyes to See

My friend Dave brought me into the controversy around this picture that went viral on February 26^th. Is the dress blue and black? Or gold and white? 10 million Tweets in just the first week.

I say blue and black. Easy-peasy. What’s the big deal?

I show it to my wife and she says “Gold and white . . . clear as day”.

One report I read said the photographer captured a ‘one-in-a-million’ image that falls in a particular place on the light spectrum where certain eyes see blue and black while others see gold and white. My wife and I are both seeing accurately with our eyes and brains. No tricks – the dress is, in fact, blue and black. Why do I have eyes that see it’s true colors and she doesn’t?

That’s the point. Why some people have ‘eyes to see’ Jesus and the Truth of the Gospel while others don’t . . . or can’t . . . or won’t.

Three kinds of ‘eyes’-

1. Rebellious eyes– Those who have ‘eyes to see’ but choose to turn away from the Jesus they know in their hearts to be true and real.

“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. Ezekiel 12:2

2. Blessed eyes – Those who have eyes to see . . . enabled by the Holy Spirit in surrendered souls who see the world as God sees it, see Jesus in themselves and others, and who are able to “see” life through the lens of a Biblical world view.

Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” Luke 10:23

3. Blind eyes– Those who just don’t have ‘eyes to see’.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. I Cor. 2:14

But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. Deuteronomy 29:4

Is this fatalistic? Do we shut down ‘seeker’ churches and fire all the outreach people? Is this ultimate Calvanism? Reformed theology on steroids?

I don’t know.

But here’s what I do know. Salvation is from God through Christ alone. Only He can give ‘eyes to see’ to those who are blind. John 6:44 (notice the red letters)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

I wrote these words in my journal the other day :

God will always do His part but He will never do my part.

The ‘drawing’, giving ‘eyes to see’, the saving through God’s grace and Jesus’ blood – that’s His part . . . to pray for those who don’t have ‘eyes to see’. To stand by those who are rebelling. To love, accept, serve them just like those who ‘get it’. To live unashamedly for Jesus and trust God with all the outcomes.

Who is the closest person to you with blind or rebellious eyes? Will you pray for them right now?

“Lord, please give ________________ ‘eyes to see’ the amazing, overwhelming, unconditional love You have for him.. Please give me the focus to pray for, accept, love, serve and ultimately share with him. It’s all about you Jesus. It’s for his good and Your glory. Amen.”