Transformation in Christ

Acts 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Transformation is not always instantaneously, Like Paul there are many who do a 180 degree turn from a life that destroyed to a life that heals. It is certain that God can clean up a sinner, breaks the habits of sin and make a new creature in Christ. Transformation of the heart is always done instantaneously, but life style and knowing how to live for Christ is most often done over time. God changes our heart, but learning to walk with God is a journey that we all take. Habits are sometimes broken like chains that bind, but not always. God is always working on us, molding us, and shaping us into His image. God has opened our eyes to see clearly the mysteries of His word. Our eyes have been open to a spiritual world once bond in darkness. We have been transformed by the renewing of our minds, and now walk in the light to live and do His will. 

The god of this World

2 Corinth 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Blinded by the god of this world, people live in darkness. Satan who was cast out of heaven desires to keep people blinded from seeing the light. He is the god of this world, cultivating the carnal nature of mankind to live after the flesh. Satan is doing all he can to keep people occupied with the things of this world. The pleasures and entertainments of our culture have consumed the lives of people that there is no time to muse on truth. Lest the light of Christ penetrate the hearts of people, the god of this world is at work sowing the seed of disbelief and relevance of God’s word. Christ came to open the blinded eyes of man, but man must want his eyes open. Jesus is the light that is able to pierce the darkness and Satan is doing all he can to keep the light from shining. 

They Knew Not

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…

Blinded by sin people often lash out or act out in ways that hurt or betray others. They don’t know how to love because sin and self controls their life. They do what is natural to them. Hard to imagine being the one to strike the nails in the hands of Jesus, or to be the one crying out “Crucify Him!” But sin is no respecter of person, it will cause people to do things that they thought they would never do. When others do or say things about us, it is natural to be resentful or even despiteful toward them. Forgiving those who cause us hurt requires that we have the mind of Christ and know the heart of God. The heart of God so loved the world that even tho the world would reject Him, He sent His Son to be the sacrifice for sin. As Christ hung on the cross, being put to death by those He loved, He spoke words of forgiveness for they were all lost in sin and in need of a Savior. 

Now I See

Luke: 24:14, 31 “But their eyes were held, that they should not know Him…And their eyes were opened and they knew Him…”

“I once was blind, but now I see” are words from the well know hymn, Amazing Grace. There are many things that can keep us from seeing the kingdom of God. Sin is probably the most common reason. Blinded by Satan and living in darkness, we are blinded to the spiritual world of the unseen. Heaven is a fairy tale, a myth handed down from generation to generation. Heaven is not real, but only the imagination of humanity. We also can be blinded by following false teaching and being led in a path of error and deceit. Blindness to knowing Him, also occurs when we have our eyes on the problem and forgetting who He is. To have our eyes open to see, we must take time with God. We must let His words burn within us and speak to us. Our eyes of understanding will be illuminated as we tarry before Him. 

Wondrous Word

Psalm 119:18 “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.”-

Blinded by sin, it is not natural for people to see the truth of God’s Word. God in His love, grace, and mercy illuminates the mind and opens the eyes of sinners to see Jesus. To see that we are sinners and need of a Savior. As Christians, we need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the deeper things of God. The Law of God is more than a rule book of things to do and not to do, but a love letter that God gives us to help us understand what it means to live and what it means to love Him. His Word is filled with wondrous things, and the half as yet to be told of all that He has for us. It is The Good Book in every sense of the word. His Word is food to the soul and the air we breathe. 

Looking to Christ

Psalms 146:8 “The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind; the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down; the Lord loveth the righteous.”-

The Lord loves all of His creation, but to those who seek after Him and desire to do what is right, He pours out His blessing, and His love is unabated. The blind man who desires to see truth is made to see by the Lord who opens the spiritual eyes of those that live in darkness. To them that have lost hope, and have beed defeated by the devil day in and day out, God will raise up. Victory comes by trusting God to help us look up and see the redemption of God. He is still in control and He will not be denied. Our political world in our nation looks bleak and our nation is in the balance of become one nation under Self. But God will watch over those who love and fear Him. He will cause to righteous to look up and see that there is one coming that will set all things right. Let us not give up, but hold on and see God work.

The Light

2 Corinth 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”-

In a world that lives in darkness, blinded to the things of God, we are given the light of God in our hearts to show others who Jesus is. As we live day to day, we do face obstacles that challenge our faith, but God, who is greater than any need we have is also able to help us shine during those difficult times, that others may see that God is real. He is not dead! He is the light of the world, and we are His vessels that His light shines through. We are not the light, we are reflectors of the Light. How important it is that our life show forth the fruit of His Light. The Gospel remains hid to those in darkness if our light is not shining in the image of Christ. May God help us to live carefully, so that other may see that Christ is the true light of world living in our heart.