Friday, October 27, 2006

It Took a Second Touch


Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. Mark 8:25

A blind man is brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus takes him by the hand, leads him out of the city, spits in his eyes, lays His hands on Him, and then asks him what he can see (Mark 8:22-25). After reading many accounts of instantaneous healings, one would expect perfect 20/20 vision. But this man’s vision was still with distortions. Jesus then lays His hands on his eyes a second time and he is then able to see everything clearly. The uniqueness of this second touch miracle has gotten my attention this morning.

I am near-sighted. Actually, I would be considered legally blind without the use of contacts or glasses. To read a book without my aids would require holding it just inches from my face. For all practical purposes I could not function outside my home if left on my own to see. And yet for years I lived with a type of blindness that was worse….spiritual blindness.

I knew Christ as Savior but failed to see so much truth about Him. My view was distorted and it caused me to live my Christian life in the dark so to speak. In the spring of 2004 God touched my spiritual eyes and I began to see things about Himself that I had never seen before. I have spent the past couple of years taking in truth that has revolutionized my life, my thinking, and my person. But God knew my “healing” was not complete. There were still some distortions. He knew that while I was taking in truth and it was filling me with excitement and passion for Him, I was still not fully taking it in. Learning truth and embracing truth are two different things. I was still living my life with a lot of mental assent.

What God had to do was show me some reasons for some core beliefs I was still holding to. As soon as I could admit to Him and myself my own continued blindness He opened my eyes fully! And all the truth I have been taking in is now sinking in! I am living with a freedom I never knew before. It is changing everything for me. With joy I spend my days going, “OH! Now I see!” Praise Him!

Father, I thought my vision had been corrected, but my healing was not complete. The fog has been lifted and the focus is clear. Thank You for a second touch that has made all the difference in the world to me! Amen.