AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER of people throughout the ages have suffered from vision problems, with little that could be done about it until recent times. Many have had to wear glasses from an early age. Most of these still remember putting on that first set of glasses and seeing leaves on trees, and definition to the edges of clouds; it brought an immediate sense of pleasure, and wonder, and awe. The world seemed to have suddenly opened up. In today’s world, scientific and medical technology have progressed much further. From such relatively simple things as photo-gray lenses, to more intricate aspects such as glaucoma repair, corneal transplants, Lasik, and intraocular lenses, we have become blessed by these advances in science that provide capability to enjoy good vision life long, and in ways that were not available to people of even a half-century ago. How fortunate we are.

An incredible number of people throughout the ages have suffered from vision problems. We speak now not of the vision that guides our hands in their activities, or our feet on a physical pathway, but the vision that brings, or fails to bring, meaning to the purpose of our lives, the days of our lives, even the very moment that we exist in. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God says “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see: Should you not fear me?” (Jer. 5:21-22)

We become dimly aware, as we live through the ages of our own existence, as one day is piled on another on another on another, that so much of what we are involved in not only seems, but in fact is, meaningless. We remain blind to this, unless something changes our vision. Solomon, overwhelmed by the seeming insignificance of life, says “I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness.” (Ecc. 2:13-14) Jesus teaches us that “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:22-23)

Perhaps you, like most of us, have suffered damage to the interior landscape of thoughts, emotions, and motivations. Because of this, when you had lived long enough you experienced a sense of meaninglessness. At some point, if we are to survive such jaded and depressing self-imposed mind-control—it is a choice—we begin to seek for meaning outside the realm of what we have known. This is by God’s design; consider that he has “set eternity in the hearts of men.” (Ecc. 3:11) This is a stunning revelation that intrudes into the realm of not just human thought, but existence. It requires a complete re-examination of our vision of life, and how our perceptions create our reality. It is a call not just to think differently, but to believe differently, and to believe in different outcomes than we can presently see. And, it necessitates faith in an intervention that comes from something—someone—beyond us.

Consider this. In the gospel narrative, two blind men have just heard that Jesus has raised a little girl from the dead (cf. Matt. 9:23-26), and begin to call on him for mercy. If he can raise the dead, certainly he can cure them of blindness! Jesus asks, “‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you,’ and their sight was restored.” (Matt.9:28b-30) In an instant, they are able to see. They have a physical healing of everything optic from cornea to brain. Even more, they receive an epiphany of mind, with an accompanying clarity of thought, and a theophany of Spirit, with an attendant nascent personal revelation of a purposeful cosmology.

It is in this same spiritually-manifested vision of Jesus that our own faith stirs in hope of seeing our lives differently. We take courage from the scriptures. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1) The Apostle Paul also strengthens our resolve, reminding us that “we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7) He reassures us that in “that same spirit of faith, we also believe.” (2 Cor. 4:13b) And what we believe is that “the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus.” (2 Cor. 4:14) Because of this, “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)

In Jesus there is a remedy—a healing—for all who desire to see. It is only a God-given vision through him of the eternal and perfect that can bring clarity to our temporal and ordinary. His outstretched hand remains ever-open. “For this people’s heart has become calloused. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” (Matt. 13:15) The glory of God in Christ outshines all that we see in the material universe. When the heavens open up, the blind believe they can see. And that is a miracle. How fortunate we are.

Q. How well do I see; is my life out of focus?