Eyes Full Of Light

Minutes before Samson's death, he prayed: "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." (KJV).

Samson was gifted with supernatural strength to lead Israel into victory against the enemies of God but was overtaken by an inward enemy of lust. In the end, his eyes were gouged out by the enemy. The very eyes that were consumed from straying glances and sexual behavior. Rather than being in the house of God beholding His glory (Psalms 27:4) he was in the temple of Dagon where he was the center of mockery and ridicule.

I believe in this present generation which relies heavily on the visual has impacted the church. We have become a people who are ever perceiving but not seeing clearly through the eyes of faith. Our vision has become narrow and constricted to the temporal and the external. While the greater and higher plans of God are lost to what is seen in front of us. As result, faith which is the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1) has turned to something akin to fatalism. That is to say we believe only what we see and our faith leans on the pillars of human reasoning.

Apostle Paul's prayer to the Ephesians is a cry for the church today. He prayed, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" Ephesians 1:18 KJV).

Beloved, we must allow the Holy Spirit to search and weigh our hearts - every intent, motive and ambition - no matter how good and proper it may appear. Jesus warns, "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness." (Luke 11:34 NIV).

Recently the Lord is dealing with various hidden attitudes in my heart - toward people, events, memories etc. I'm learning that if the attitude and the poisonous root hidden below the surface is not addressed it will decrease the light in my life and my eyes will become dim if not darkened. My vision of Christ becomes degraded and muted. No longer can I see clearly the glorious work of Christ in my brothers or sisters. Otherwise, I can be fixed on difficult and sometimes unpleasant transformation process of a man or woman becoming more like Him.

Let's press into Him so our hearts remain clean and clear. It means our eyes will be full of light and life.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalms 34:5.