Remember Paul’s experience on the way to Damascus? Acts 9:
“1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], …
3 As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?” …
8 Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank. …
10 Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying [there], 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.” …
15 But the Lord said to him [Ananias], “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias left and entered the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came [to Damascus], has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit [in order to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles].” 18 Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took some food and was strengthened.”
Can you put yourself in Paul’s place? Suddenly he has no sight. This proud man has to rely on others for everything! How does he feel? What is he thinking? What can he do? In this instance… he can do nothing and yet he is blessed and Paul received his sight.
How does this apply to us? Don’t we get blinded by lies at times? Don’t we do/say things we shouldn’t (or don’t do what we should)? Can you say that every day, in all ways… you see? Probably not. It doesn’t mean that truth or understanding is deliberately being kept from us. But we need to recognize the signs and act by asking for sight so we do see.
Having just experienced cataract surgery I appreciate more than I realized or can express just how precious sight is. Without the surgery I could have ended up blind. For a person who was raised reading… this is a frightful possibility. But simultaneously, don’t underestimate the word ‘sight’. Seeing encompasses so much more than just the physical. It is the spiritual sight that can lead us to understanding. Though it may sound dramatic and even skirting adding to scripture… I tend to think that Ananias brought Paul physical and spiritual healing.
But what about you, me – how and what do we see? Have we received our sight? And how do we respond to spiritual sight?
