Spiritual Blindness
In our world there are millions of blind people. Day and night are the same to them. They cannot see the beauty of the world – the flowers, trees, sunsets. Their usefulness is limited because of their blindness.
But far more dangerous and terrible is spiritual blindness, which takes away eternal life from us.
A spiritually blind person does not know what he is doing. Eve became blinded by looking at the forbidden tree. Spiritual blindness overruled her knowledge. God had told her what would be the result of disobedience yet she went ahead and ate of the forbidden tree. This blindness could be compared to a condition of being hypnotized. The first step she took voluntarily by going to the forbidden tree to look at it. The second step she could not resist. Satan has learned how to lead people into sin by leading them just to look at it first. Television, videos, computers serve well for this purpose. Millions are lost eternally just by beholding evil, vanity and violence.
By beholding they are changed into the same image. Prophet Isaiah saw the world enveloped in darkness. “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people.” Isa. 60:2. Sister White wrote the same. “The children of the world are called the children of darkness. They are blinded by the god of this world, and are led by the spirit of the prince of darkness. They cannot enjoy heavenly things.” T. Vol. 1 page 279
People in the world enjoy the pleasure of sin. They live to gratify the flesh, and eternity is out of their reckoning. Our religion to them is foolishness.
We agree that the world is in darkness. But how are the Christians who visit churches and profess religion?
“I was amazed as I beheld the terrible darkness of the members of our churches. The lack of godliness was such that they were bodies of darkness and death, instead of being the light of the world. Many profess to love God but in works deny Him.” Test. Vol 2 pg. 444.
How is it with us today? Are we the children of light or the children of darkness? This is an important question, because a blind person does not see his own spiritual condition. The Laodicean angel is satisfied with himself, saying, “I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.” Rev. 3:17. At the same time his true condition is “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
By looking at the world we become blinded. Money becomes important to us. A comfortable, easy life becomes desirable. Amusements and entertainment become attractive.
This is what happened to Judas. We wonder, how could he betray Jesus? How could he be so foolish? Yet Judas did not see anything wrong in his act. He thought himself to be wise. Just for one hour’s work he gained 30 pieces of silver. Judas was a member in the very church of God, in the company of Jesus yet he was a spiritually blind person.
Apostle Paul writes, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Rom. 1:21-22
“This 1 say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Eph. 4:17-18.
“But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:11
By these verses we can see that it is possible to be members in the church of God and be blinded by Satan, by vanity and by hatred to a brother. Bitterness towards someone will blind and defile us. “Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Heb. 12:15. A person with bitterness in his heart cannot be quiet but will speak to others of it and by so doing many will become bitter and defiled.
No one is so blinded and bitter as Satan. He was the most intelligent of all created beings and yet became the most foolish and blinded. Now he is the most miserable and unhappy person.
Sister White writes, “When the eye is blinded by the love of self, there is only darkness…. Every indulgence of sinful desire strengthens the soul’s aversion to God, and leads us into deeper and deeper darkness.” MB 92.
“Those who have great light and who have not walked in it will have darkness corresponding to the light they have despised.” T.M. 163.
As the eye doctor examines the physical eyesight, we can also examine our spiritual eyesight.
2 Peter 1:2-9 brings an eye test to us. 10 different qualities are mentioned here.
1. Are we partakers of the divine nature?
2. Have we escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust?
3. Do we have faith? (to move mountains)
4. Do we have virtue, the moral excellence, and a balanced life?
5. Do we have knowledge of God and of His will?
6. Do we have temperance, the self-control?
7. Do we have patience – perseverance under adversity?
8. Do we have godliness? – are we like Jesus in our behaviour?
9. Do we have brotherly kindness? – do we Jove our church members?
10. Do we have charity (agape)? Do we love God above all and even our enemies?
Verse nine says, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.’1
The Spirit of Prophecy tells us what brings spiritual blindness upon a professed Christian.
1. Ignoring God’s warnings. T. Vol. 3:266
2. Delay to obey. (Luke 9:59-62) “Today if you hear My voice harden not your heart.”
3. Sin blinds us. Willful sin is most dangerous. By it we lose the sense of sinfulness of our wrongdoing.
4. Selfishness blinds us that we cannot see spiritual things
5. Neglecting our duty.
6. Lack of Bible study.
7. Neglecting prayer.
It is very difficult to help a spiritually blind person. We may waste hours arguing and debating about the points of truth and get nowhere. Jesus said to his disciples, “Let them alone , they be blind leaders of the blind.” Matt. 15:14.
Apostle Paul said, “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject.” Titus 3:10.
The only remedy for spiritual blindness is the eyesalve that the True Witness is offering to the Laodicean angel. Suddenly we may realize our foolishness like Peter and weep bitterly and then we can be the angel of light whose glory will lighten the earth.
“Oh, why will not God’s people comply with the conditions laid down in His word? If they would do this they would not fail to realize the excellent blessing freely given of God to the humble and obedient.” T. Vol. 2:444
Let us go to the Heavenly Merchantman, the True Witness, to the Laodicean church and buy the eyesalve. The price may seem high but the result will be spiritual health, salvation and fullness of joy and peace and in the end eternal life.
May the Lord bless us all in this.
AMEN