Beautiful sunshine, an array of colorful blooms, the variety of greens – azure, forrest, mint, ochre – filling the landscape, birds dressed in reds and blues – these all are harbingers of spring and announce new life, just as Easter echoes, “He is Risen.” God, our creator, gives us many messages of His existence, but only those who have eyes can see. We gain insight by looking at contrasts. Think of the difference in Paul before and after he was blinded on the road to Damascus. Paul said, “…one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”

Recently in the Holy Land, I encountered many whose eyes have been blinded to the truth that Jesus is truly the Son of God and the promised Messiah. The Jewish people have rejected him as the chosen Messiah. As one man told me when I asked what he believed about Jesus, “Ah, he’s just one of the good old boys.” A Muslim man said he was just a prophet. An atheist said he was the best salesman who ever lived who sold a bunch of ignorant people a bill of goods. With all the Holy sites in their view, they are blind to the truth. But this isn’t a new story. In Matthew 13:15 we read, For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed;

In Acts 28:27, For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

In Mark 8:18, Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

In Roman 11: 7, What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Some blindness comes from birth (their parents were unbelievers) and some, by choice.

I was reminded of the importance of physical sight recently when a woman told me her story. Her mother-in-law visited her and while there, she pulled off her glasses, laid them on the table close by, and leaned her head back to take a nap. Since that was the place the daughter-in-law often sat to read, she had her reading glasses on that same table. When her mother-in-law went home, she soon went to bed. The next morning she called her daughter-in-law and son. “I think you need to come over right away and call your brother to come also. Something is bad wrong.”

“What’s the problem, Mom,” asked her concerned son.

“Something is happening to me. I’ve suddenly gone blind. I can’t focus at all.”

The family quickly gathered to check out the problem. As they entered, to the families chagrin, the daughter-in-law broke into laughter. “Mama Nell, you aren’t going blind; you have on my glasses. You must have picked up the wrong pair yesterday.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if spiritual blindness was that easily remedied. May we pray that our eyes never become jaded and blinded to the truths of Jesus.

Matthew 13:16 – But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Read Paul’s miraculous story in Acts 9.

Make the spiritual blindness of the people in Jerusalem a matter of prayer. Only 1% of all Jerusalem is Christian.

Contact Barbara Eubanks to speak for your upcoming events – Mother/daughter banquets, retreats, or other events 256-878-5934 or email at Barbara@barbaraeubanks.com. Read Barbara’s stories from previous issues at www.barbaraeubanks.com.