Quo Vadis?
Spiritual Cataracts
Photo By: Flickr/Peretz Partensky
A cataract develops slowly over time, causing the lens in the eye to become progressively cloudy. Without surgical intervention, cataracts inevitably lead to blindness.
Spiritual cataracts also develop slowly over time. And like their physical counterparts, without intervention, spiritual cataracts inevitably lead to an inability to see.
Jesus had a few things to say about spiritual cataracts. For example, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)
He also said: “Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”(John 3:19-20)
One thing about Jesus: He never softened for anyone His warning of eternal judgment for those choosing darkness. Religious officials, politicians, or laity – He spoke Truth to them all.
He still does.
People can remain in the dark to avoid the light of Truth and the requisite lifestyle changes that conform to Truth. They can nurture their pride, or their spirit of revenge, or an unwillingness to forgive others. They can continue to nurse impure or immoral thoughts -- and a dozen other sins everyone reading this knows by experience to one degree or another.
The more often we turn to darkness, and the longer we remain in darkness, the darker our vision becomes. It's really as simple as that.
As the prophet Hosea warned:“Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the Lord.” (Hosea 5:4)
So, how do we avoid – or heal – spiritual cataracts before they completely obscure our spiritual sight? As with physical cataracts, surgery is the only treatment to restore sight. Even so, spiritual cataracts can only be removed by the spiritual Surgeon – the Lord Jesus.
Many years ago songwriter Robert Cull wrote this prayerful song, "Open our Eyes Lord."
“Open our eyes, Lord, We want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him. Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen. Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.”
How do we avoid – or heal – spiritual cataracts? We must come to Him – not once, not a hundred times – but every day when we sense our spiritual sight dimming. We must come purposely and intentionally to ask Him to remove the spiritual cataracts forming over our eyes because of the sins we have not brought to Him for cleansing and healing. We must ask Him to open our spiritual eyes and ears and help us to love Him.
It's really as simple as that.
As we grow deeper in love with Him, the less we enjoy the darkness.
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Follow my blog at www.inhimalone.com
About the Author
Richard Maffeo was born into a Jewish home in the early 1950s. In 1972 he discovered Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, and he dove into his awakened faith with a passion that continues to this present day. Richard spent 33 years in evangelical Protestant churches until he realized God was calling him to the Catholic Church. He was received into the Church in 2005. He has written three books, writes a blog, and teaches several bible studies each week at 55+ communities. You can find his blog at www.inhimonly.blogspot.com. You can find him on Facebook by searching for his name.
Richard and his wife Nancy are married 47 years. They have three grown children.
