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2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2Corinthians 5:17-21, Are you hearing and seeing God's way?, Are you seeing God's way?, Doing God's will or man's?, Doing things God's way!, Ears that hear not, Eye Exam Recommended., Eyes that see not, Isaiah 32:3-4, Isaiah 44:18, Isaiah 6:9-10, John 8:42-45, Matthew 12:33-36, Matthew 15:17-20, Proverbs 4:23-26, Psalms 19:14, Seeing Jesus in spite of the worldliness around us., What are you seeing?, Who are you listening to?
Eye Exam Recommended?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #440
I started to title this article, “Clear Vision”, but changed my mind to redirect us to the need not to focus on our need, not our self-satisfaction with the status-quo; for so often we become self-satisfied and we, like most of the culture around us, tend to measure ourselves by a standard that we have set, or allowed other outside sources to skew reality. We decide that we can see fine, even if we need glasses, we see all that we need to see. I think God may have a different perspective and I want God’s true perspective.
“Seeing many things,
but thou observest not;
opening the ears,
but he heareth not.” Isaiah 42:20
“They have not known nor understood:
for he hath shut their eyes,
that they cannot see;
and their hearts,
that they cannot understand.” Isaiah 44:18
“And he said,
Go,
and tell this people,
Hear ye indeed,
but understand not;
and see ye indeed,
but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat,
and make their ears heavy,
and shut their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and convert,
and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10
We can be of those people who desire to know God, and will give heed to His voice, or we can join those who close their eyes and ears to God’s message. We have a God-given right to choose—but choose wisely, there is a test! The Lord will honor those who seek Him, with eyes that see and ears that hear and hearts that understand.
“And the eyes of them that see
shall not be dim,
and the ears of them that hear
shall hearken.
4 The heart also of the rash
shall understand knowledge,
and the tongue of the stammerers
shall be ready to speak plainly.” Isaiah 32:3-4
There is a true understanding that leads us to God, or we can close our eyes to truth and fall for the lies of the enemy; an enemy who dresses up like the real deal, but he is a liar. Let’s consider what Jesus said, and Paul gives us even more insight into what scripture calls, “the wiles of the devil”! Who are you listening to? What are you following? What are you believing?
“Jesus said unto them,
If God were your Father,
ye would love me:
for I proceeded forth and came from God;
neither came I of myself,
but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech?
even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie,
he speaketh of his own:
for he is a liar,
and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth,
ye believe me not.” John 8:42-45
And Paul’s warning was to be aware of our enemy, and let me just add, if you don’t know God’s Word, you will have a most difficult time discerning between truth and lie.
“For such are false apostles,
deceitful workers,
transforming themselves
into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself
is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing
if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness;
whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
And please note that they are “transforming themselves” not being transformed by the power of the cross. (See Romans 12:1-3 & Matthew 7:20-24). Only Jesus can save, redeem and change lives for eternity—Satan always lies! Even his half-truths are based in lies not truth! Yet, Jesus clearly reminds us that it’s a heart issue, and while we can fool some of the people all of the time and we can fool all of the people some of the time—but we can’t ever fool GOD! And it’s God to whom we will give an account!
“Either make the tree good,
and his fruit good;
or else make the tree corrupt,
and his fruit corrupt:
for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers,
how can ye, being evil,
speak good things?
for out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man
out of the good treasure of the heart
bringeth forth good things:
and an evil man
out of the evil treasure
bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you,
That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof
in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:33-36
“Do not ye yet understand,
that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth
goeth into the belly,
and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed
out of the mouth come forth from the heart;
and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed
evil thoughts,
murders,
adulteries,
fornications,
thefts,
false witness,
blasphemies:
20 These are the things
which defile a man:
but to eat with unwashen hands
defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:17-20
Do we understand this truth! The Proverbs give us an amazing word of caution.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee
a froward mouth,
and perverse lips
put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on,
and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet,
and let all thy ways be established.” Proverbs 4:23
One of my favorite and most apropos passages is from the Psalms. I hope it will speak to you as well.
“Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight,
O LORD,
my strength,
and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14
And as we close, how do we receive that which we need to please God. Paul said it best; we have to become renewed by the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin (See 1 John 1:7), by faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God,
who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us
the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Are you a new creature? Have your eyes received sight from Jesus? I pray that you will see Him in saving faith by grace, that you may see and hear God’s truth!
Amen and Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 