Middle-Age Woes
I had my annual eye check-up recently, and was told once again that I needed bifocals, except this time, I didn't fight it, but gladly said, "Yes, I know, please help me."
Four years ago, I wasn't so eager.
I had just turned forty, and my optometrist at the time, mentioned the idea of bifocals to me, which I balked at and said, "Yeah, right, I'm not that old yet."
"Give me a break," I thought, I just turned forty. Let me adjust to this before you throw in the fact my body is degenerating already.
Anyways, here I am, four years later, and this time around I'm agreeing with the optometrist heartily, even asking for help.
Yes. I had noticed my steady decline in vision, and gladly confessed it, ok, let's move on.
After my check up, it was time to get fitted for new glasses.
A Broken Machine and a Life Lesson About Light
Sitting across the table from the service tech, who was very chatty, and happy to help, I might add. In fact, she was so eager to help me, she even picked out my new frames, and did a good job at it too.
As I sat in my chair, she proceeded to place a measuring instrument against my face, as to align it with my eyes. Then she cocked her head, and asked me if I could see the light with both eyes, and I said, "No", only with my left eye." Then she took it down, checked a few things, and placed the instrument against my face again. Still, I couldn't see any light with my left eye.
After a couple more attempts at fixing the machine, she said, "I think this one is broken, let me find another one."
Being confident that the new measuring instrument was in good working order, she lifted it up to my face, and asked, "Can you see the light now?"
"Yes, I can see the light," I said.
Then she leaned forward across the table, and said, "You know, one time, I was measuring a guy for glasses, and I thought the measuring unit was broken, because when I looked through the instrument, there was no light reflecting off of his right eye."
"It spooked me," she said. "So I questioned him about this, and he said he was blind in that eye."
We discussed this phenomenon of a blind eye not reflecting light for a while afterwards. She went on to say that she knew the instrument was in working order, because the light was reflecting off the right eye like it was supposed to, and she could see that the instrument was sending light to the left eye, but there was no reflection of light, just darkness.
I really couldn't believe this concept, I just have never known that our eyes reflect light like this.
When light is shined into an eye, it reflects light back, and when an eye is blind, it reflects nothing, even when a light is being shined directly into it. Perhaps I had been taught this in science class at some point, but right now, it amazed me!
While she was talking, my thoughts went directly to the book of 1 John, where it refers to walking as Children of Light, "God is light and in Him is no darkness.." I kept thinking of how we are supposed to be reflecting the nature of Christ, the love of Christ, and the Light of Christ in all that we do.
Reflecting the Light of God in our Life
This thought of absorbing God's light while reading His Word, or spending time with the Lord, kept resonating within me while I wrapped up my appointment.
"If we absorb His light, then we will reflect His light unto others," I thought to myself...
I walked out of the office and knew I needed to go straight home, and read the book of 1 John.
So as soon as I came home from my appointment, and put together my lunch, I opened my Bible App on my phone and went straight to 1 John and began reading:
Attributes Found in the Children of Light:
- We reflect the Light of the Lord through our behavior
- We acknowledge we are a sinner
- We make a confession of our sins
- We acknowledge we've been cleansed from all unrighteousness
- We have fellowship with other believers
- We have been cleansed from all sin
- We obey His commandments
- We love our brothers or sisters in the Lord
Attributes Found in the Spiritually Blind:
- We walk in darkness
- The truth isn't in us
- We do not acknowledge we are a sinner
- We deceive ourselves by saying, "I haven't sinned."
- We do not confess our sins, but keep them hidden
- We say we are a Christian, but do not follow the Word of God
- We are a liar
- We do not obey the commandments
- We have hatred in our hearts towards our brothers and sisters in the Lord
- We have not been cleansed of unrighteousness
Reflecting God's Light in Behavior and Testimony
After making this mental list during lunch, I sat there in amazement at the glory of the Lord, and the wonder at all He created.
His mighty handiwork is evident in everything, and everything always points back to Him.
There are spiritual truths hidden everywhere! Even with this concept of an eye reflecting light, and a blind eye does not.
If we are walking in the Light, then we will reflect God's light!
If we can't see our own sinful, deceitful, nature, then we are blind, and are walking in darkness.
The sad thing is, those who walk in darkness, sometimes don't even know they are spiritually blind.
How thankful I was in that moment! How merciful the Lord has been to me! He gave me insight and understanding of this concept of light versus darkness.
A new wave of repentance flooded over me, and I found myself sitting in the presence of the Lord during my lunch break.
This new revelation was so precious to me!
My heart loves the Lord, and I wanted nothing more in that moment but to enjoy the peace, and love I felt from His loving nature.
I meditated on these thoughts for a while, and even shared my thoughts in a testimony at church the next week, and the Lord visited us with His presence, to give witness that these things were true.
Having an Eternal Vision of Walking in Light
Friends, let us walk in the Light, following His word, obeying His commandments, and loving one another, "even as Christ has loved us."
"...because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining." (1 John 2:8b)
As you read the Word of God, and as you pray, the anointing that comes through His Word will teach you, and give you understanding.
"His Word is true - and is not a lie." (1 John 2:27)
"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:20)
Walk as Children of Light.
Consider reading MY PRAYER JOURNAL for inspiration and encouragement in your daily walk with the Lord.
Let's Pray Together:
Heavenly Father,
Your ways are so precious and I feel blessed to have been given this fresh revelation of Your love for us. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share these truths with others.
Will You give us further insight into this matter of walking as children of Light, so we can bless and honor You all our days?
Cause our hearts to turn to You each and every day, allowing Your heavenly light and wisdom to settle deep within our spirits, so we can be carriers of Your divine light to this dark world.
Let Your light and truth guide us all our days!
In Your Precious Name, AMEN!
Blessings ~
The Founder, Angie
My Sun & Shade Ministries
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