Our Spiritual Eyes!
"Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy,
and have need of nothing”—and do not know that you
are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."
Revelation 3: 17
Perhaps the saddest of the seven letters to the churches
in Asia Minor was delivered to the church in Laodicea. The
city was wealthy due to it being on one of the major trade
routes of the region; it was a major banking center.
Christians there participated in the prosperity and saw
themselves as being self-sufficient due to their
wealth.
Christ saw them as being in great need spiritually: They
were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Their condition illustrates principle in Scripture contrasting
physical and spiritual eyes. This contrast was illustrated in
life of the nation of Israel. Because of their sin, they could
see physically but could not perceive spiritually (Isaiah 6:9).
Christ reaffirmed their spiritual blindness when He taught
them using parables (Matthew 13:14-15). Because we
see physically does not mean we always perceive
spiritually and therefore truthfully.
Pray with the
psalmist: “Open my eyes,
that I may see wondrous things from
Your law” (Psalm 119:18).
"It
is no advantage to be near
the light if the eyes are closed."
Augustine
