I Can Finally See

They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so they cannot comprehend. Isaiah 44:18

Until God opens our spiritual eyes, we cannot see or comprehend the truths of His Word. Concepts stay out of reach. Understanding remains a mystery. It is like looking at a book written in a language you have not learned yet. God must intervene before His truths can be digested.

I look at this passage in Isaiah 44:9-20 with amazement. It is entitled "The Folly of Idolatry." It goes on to describe a person who makes his own idol and then worships it. He does not even question the foolishness of this. It is an idol he has made and yet he worships it and prays to it. I imagine people who came out of idolatry to know and serve the living God were incredulous that they ever worshiped the idols to start with.

If I could write a chapter about my blind days it would be entitled "The Folly of Legalism." Legalism is defined as "strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code that restricts free choice." I was not walking in freedom as long a I felt God's acceptance of me was determined by my standard keeping and performance. It wasn't working for salvation per say. It was working to somehow become acceptable to God and to be loved by God.

During that time, God's voice was not discernible to me, His Word was not appealing to me, and His work in my life was not evident to me. I could work, keep my list of duties, and live under the burden of perfectionism but it never brought me into a friendship type relationship with my Creator.

I had resigned myself to the fact that life would always be like that. God would always be my task master and harsh judge. From day to day I felt the condemnation of His disapproval. It wasn't until God removed the veil from my eyes, mind, and spirit that I could see my own faulty thinking and gain a hope that things could actually be different for me.

That was two years ago this month. I do know this ~ now that I have tasted of true freedom and caught a glimpse of what God is really like, I hunger to know more! The old way no longer appeals to me.

Father, You knew the day You would give me the gift of spiritual sight and understanding. I marvel at what I see now! Thank You. Amen.