I gazed down, enraptured, at the picture book. The children were trying to bathe Mr. Muggs, but he wasn’t cooperating. Soapy water flew everywhere as he jumped out and began to shake. I loved this book. Many hours had passed perusing it with either my mom or one of my siblings. But this time was different. I saw the words and understood them!
Learning to read Mr. Muggs, at the age of 4 opened a whole new world of imagination for me. Words came into my life and brought exciting new vistas, adventures and friends with them. A lifetime love was born because I had new eyes.
Recently, my husband had cataract surgery. He was legally blind in one eye, and the other was deteriorating as well. The idea of anyone touching someone’s eyes, particularly his, always made him shiver in horror. Because of this fear, he was hesitant to have the surgery.
“Do I really need it? Maybe I can just get stronger glasses or make do,” he tried reasoning.
“Do you want to be blind for the rest of your life?” I asked.
Fear can keep us from living life abundantly and knowing truth.
The Bible lay open before me on one side of our small kitchen table, and my study guide on the other. This was new territory—studying the Scriptures myself. As I worked and read, insights began popping in my mind like old-fashioned camera flashbulbs. Mary had other children? Pop! I can pray directly to God? Pop! The apostles had flaws? Pop! I don’t have to be perfect before Christ will accept me? Pop!
Lifelong beliefs were being challenged and discovered to not be true or only half-truths. I found a richness and beauty in God I had never known before.
A lack of understanding and knowledge of God’s word is like being illiterate or blind. Without help, we are lost to the truth. As Jesus prepared for his death, he promised the apostles he would send a Helper to be with them. The Holy Spirit is the Helper who dwells within the heart of every believer in Christ.
Having cataract surgery and learning to read are like having the Holy Spirit open our eyes to God’s truth.
Learning to read takes time and practice. Surgery on your eyes is scary, uncomfortable and requires a repeated schedule of eye drops. In the same way, learning to understand scripture and know the Lord takes time, practice and repetition. It is scary and uncomfortable having your beliefs challenged, but knowing the truth is freeing and brings joy. The more we learn about the LORD’s character, love and amazing grace, the easier it is to understand his ways and follow in obedience.
After having surgery on his first eye, my husband was amazed and thrilled by the clarity in his vision, and eagerly awaited the second surgery.
When we make the time to study Scripture, asking for the Holy Spirit’s help, we gain new clarity into who our Lord is and;
“being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge” Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV
And so my friends, I pray for you as Paul did in Ephesians 1:17: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
Do not be afraid, carve out the time and pray for the Helper to open your eyes as you read and study. He is a faithful guide.
Be well!
Patricia