"When Things Get Cloudy"

“When Things Get Cloudy”

 

During my pastoral days our office copiers seemed to be accidents waiting to happen. One was destroyed by a ceiling leak (it took a while to explain that to our insurance carrier) and was eventually replaced, thereby saving numerous trips to Staples’ Copy Center. The new one soon began producing faded copies and was finally diagnosed as having a dirty sensor which was blocking the light and calling for insufficient toner. Once the film was cleaned off the machine did its job in the way intended.

The copier difficulty was much like a cataract on the eye which covers the lens and can eventually lead to blindness if not removed. After surgery the clouded eyesight is cleared up as if the vision clock has been turned back. Some who read this may have benefitted from this procedure and see better now than they did for many years previously.

Just as the dusty sensor affected the copier and cataracts obstruct eyesight there are hindrances that can keep us from seeing things as God wants us to. Maybe it’s selfishness, perhaps preconceived notions, possibly a lack of forgiveness—the list could go on. The point is we can’t allow anything to get in the way of what God intends us to see. In Mark 8 Jesus met a blind man who desired to have his sight restored. After the Lord touched him he said people looked like trees. Then Jesus touched him again and “…his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” (Verse 25). May we need to ask for that second touch from above.

When copiers or vision get cloudy something needs to be done or permanent damage can result. In the spiritual realm our testimony and impact can be impeded unless we ask God to remove the blockage (whatever it may be) and focus on what He wants us to understand about Him, His Word, and maybe ourselves. So with the psalmist let’s pray, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18).

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan