“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” —Matthew 6:22–23
What is it we set our sights on? Is our spiritual vision tainted by what the world offers? Do we prostitute ourselves by going after the desires of our own hearts and eyes? We are to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord! We are to live our lives before an audience of One!
I am reminded of the poor example of Eve. We are told in Genesis that by her maintaining a selfish desire, she fell, dragging her husband down with her:
“When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” —Genesis 3:6
Do not be mistaken, we never sin as unto ourselves. Sadly, it will always affect those around us. The ripple effect goes on and on.
“Let this be a warning to me, O Lord. Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the heart; if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame: thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time. “The hypocrite soars like the kite, with his eye on the prey below. The true Christian soars like the lark, higher and higher, forgetting the things that are beneath.” —Matthew Henry
We must be careful to guard ourselves against worldliness. We are to be sojourners and ambassadors for Christ! Our citizenship is ultimately in heaven. The Christian, like the traveler, must have their eye on the journey’s end. Our spiritual vision is to have the capacity to see clearly the right road—God’s path.
Solomon’s wisdom rings true:
“Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.” — Proverbs 17:24
Surely the writer of Hebrews was on target when he tells us where our gaze should remain:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.” —Hebrews 12:1–3
Become More
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.” —Colossians 3:1–4
Further Reflection
“I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” —Jeremiah 17:10