2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NIV): And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
The insidious thing that has been going on for some time now is that satan, the enemy of men’s souls, the so-called “god” of this age, has blinded the eyes of people to the reality of their sinfulness and their lostness, and to the reality of God’s existence and holiness, and has then persuaded them that they can see clearer than ever; MUCH more clearly than those who do see or believe in those things. One of the most dangerous things in the world is a blind person who is persuaded that he can see. Just picture him behind the wheel of a car!
God puts His light into the heart of every person who surrenders themselves to Him, and when He does that, for the first time, they can really see. Only then will they realize how blind they have been, how much they thought they knew that they didn’t really know, how lost they actually were.
And, once they have been filled with light, God sends them to spread that light into the dark places near where they live and work and shop. It’s not an easy job; those who have been blinded often don’t want to see. The light is frightening to them, and feels threatening. They often close their eyes even tighter to lock out the light that threatens their self-image, their worldview, their belief system. But with a consistent, patient, loving application of the light by someone who cares about them, the light will start to seep in around the edges, bringing real life, replacing fear with hope and joy, and drawing them right into the kingdom!
Father, I can testify to this truth. Before I surrendered to Your light, I seriously thought I could see. I sneered at the naiveté of those who told me that I was lost, when I knew that I had so much better information than they did. I was proud of my knowledge and maturity and sophistication, and wouldn’t listen to contrary views. But then You used the prayers of those who cared about me, and Your word, to make cracks in my self-constructed worldview. And then, Your healing saving, loving light came flooding in. And, at last, I could REALLY see. Thank You! Amen!