Seeing What We've Been Missing
Why the Most Dangerous Blindness Is the One We Don't Know We Have
Consider This:
After my recent cataract surgery,
I was amazed at how much brighter and sharper
the world appeared through my new lens.
More sobering, however, was realizing
how long I had mistaken
a distorted view of reality
for reality itself.
New Eyes
I’d known I had cataracts for several years, but put it out of my mind because “it was minor” and “I didn’t need to worry about it.” So when it became difficult to see with my glasses—especially driving at night—I assumed I needed a new prescription.
But the ophthalmologist told me I didn’t need new glasses, I needed new eyes. The cataracts in my eyes’ lenses had gotten much worse since they were first discovered, and I had absolutely zero awareness of it.
I blamed my glasses. But the problem was me.
I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes (which is why I haven’t posted since my last article). They replaced my left lens first—my dominant eye. It’s hard to describe the shock I experienced.
I first noticed it the day after surgery, in our bathroom. When I looked through my right eye (with its cataract), the white countertop looked normal. But when I looked through my repaired left eye, what I saw was dramatically brighter.
This picture (as best I can reproduce it) captures what I saw:
What I’d thought was white was actually a dirty-yellow haze. And if you’d have told me the white I was seeing was yellow, I would’ve said you were wrong.
Selah.
More Than Eyesight
Why does Scripture place so much emphasis on seeing?
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Ps. 119.18)
“LORD, my eyes are not haughty” (Ps. 131.1)
“I have been broken over … their eyes that go whoring after their idols” (Ezek. 6.9)
“They have eyes to see, but do not see” (Ezek. 12.2)
“They have closed their eyes” (Mt. 13.15)
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see” (Luke 10.23)
“They cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ” (2 Cor. 4.4)
“That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Eph. 1.18)
Throughout Scripture, the eye is often used as a symbol for mental perception—the means by which we discern, interpret and respond to reality.
That may explain why Jesus' most famous statement about the eye has almost nothing to do with vision.
The Lamp of the Body
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
(Mat 6:22-23)
Jesus includes this comment in describing things that seduce our trust, like public approval, treasure and competing masters. Whatever captures our trust also captures our attention, which gradually becomes the lens through which we interpret everything else.
In other words, we choose what we want to observe, and the mindset by which we observe it. And this observational choice changes what we end up “seeing.”
My cataract didn’t change reality, but it dramatically changed what I perceived reality to be. Similarly, the eye functions as a lens for the rest of life. What enters through that lens doesn’t define reality, it shapes how we interpret reality—and how we then live it out.
The weight of Jesus’ comment is profound: Distorted perception isn't merely possible—it’s one of humanity's most defining problems.
Few passages illustrate this better than Isaiah's commissioning.
Seeing But Not Perceiving
In Isaiah’s call to ministry, God gives him an astounding task:
Go and tell this people: “Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.” Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
(Isa. 6:9-10, emphasis mine)
Jesus cited this passage to explain why he spoke in parables. His point:
Those with “good” eyes would see the meaning and truth of the kingdom and pursue it further.
Those with “bad” eyes would see only gibberish.
This may be one of the Bible’s most sobering warnings. If our “eye” isn’t healthy, we can be looking directly at reality—with all sincerity and the best of intentions—and be blind to what it truly is.
The truth becomes false; and false becomes our truth. And the onus for our lack of comprehension is on us.
My cataract-affected lenses were normal to me. Likewise, we can see through the lenses of experiences and faith practices that seem normal but are actually giving us a false perception of reality.
Things like traditions, strategy, theological constructs, doctrines, goals, vision … Though healthy and purposeful, they become dangerous when they replace humble dependence upon God. Experiences that elevate us in the eyes of others can change the way we see ourselves, people and God. Traumatic experiences induce so much pain and vulnerability that they affect how we see the rest of life.
They can all make our eyes bad.
Jesus dealt with a group of people who provide perhaps the clearest biblical example of sincere people whose spiritual lenses had become corrupted.
Blind Idolatry
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were deeply devoted to God. They were disciplined, knowledgeable and passionate; solely dedicated to the Messiah’s coming.
Yet Jesus repeatedly called them blind. Why?
Because their interpretations and rules became the eyes through which they saw reality. Though it was disconnected from reality, their way of life had become normalized to their own interpretation.
They hadn’t rejected God. Instead, they’d gradually replaced dependence upon God with confidence in their own interpretation of him. Entirely unintentionally—yet of their own choosing—they’d slipped into a form of idolatry: an idolatry of self.
After all, idolatry isn’t merely the worship of figurines; that’s far too obvious. Idolatry comes much more subtly and insidiously.
Practicing idolatry involves two key factors:
Creating false images of God (huh … another “seeing” activity), and
Placing functional trust in ourselves and the things we control—instead of God.
Though they claimed to honor God, they put their trust in their self-generated interpretation of reality. It expediently positioned them in authority over the God they claimed to honor.
The image of God they created in their minds was so distorted that when God showed up in the flesh, they killed him.
I wonder: Do we believe we are immune from the same error?
Selah.
What If We Cannot See Our Own Blindness?
Frankly, I have grave concerns for the church in the West. The greatest danger we face isn’t related to things we usually pay attention to: doctrine, theology, strategy or our position on social issues.
The greatest danger is our unrecognized blindness that reduces faith to information, positional statements, public following and adherence to accepted behavior.
Consider: What kind of spiritual “eyes” produce the behaviors we commonly exhibit?
Why do we so easily create lists of approved theological positions to hold, churches to attend and teachers to follow?
Why are we so quick to promote what we “see” as right, and judge everything else as wrong?
Why are we so attracted to answers that can’t be questioned, and so impatient with questions that can’t be answered?
Why do we give so much energy and attention to distinguishing ourselves from each other, instead of focusing on what we share in common?
Why do we so readily desire power, control and status, and have such apathy for service, humility and faith?
Why do we so easily elevate some people—including ourselves—over others?
Why do we struggle to be in relationship with people different from us?
Why do we view faith as something to consume rather than something to be?
Why are we so afraid and anxious?
Why do we so poorly excel in love?
Selah.
The Eyes of Our Heart
One of the apostle Paul’s most heartfelt prayers for the Ephesian believers was that “the eyes of [their] heart may be enlightened” (Eph. 1.18). What a beautiful contrast to Pharisaical blindness.
Paul isn’t praying for more information. He’s praying for clearer perception.
We see the same theme over and over in the New Testament:
Romans 12 — transformation, humility and inter-personal connection as the outcomes of a renewed mind.
Philippians 2 — a commitment to seeing reality from Jesus’ mindset.
Colossians 3 — setting our focus on heavenly things, not earthly.
The goal of being and making disciples that look like Jesus isn’t merely better doctrine and theological certainty, it’s learning to perceive reality through the eyes of Christ—to have his mind; to live as he lived, and love as he loved.
Seeing What We’ve Been Missing
Before surgery, my distorted vision had become my normal. My bad eye was not obvious to me because I had adapted to it.
Our opportunity is to become aware of what we've adapted to, and through new eyes to see how far out of alignment we may be with the kingdom. In other words, repent—metanoia (transformed thinking).
Because Jesus’ invitation isn’t merely to believe the right things. It is to have eyes to see.
He calls us to continually surrender our false identities, assumptions and perceptions to him. To allow the Spirit to expose the lenses through which we interpret reality, so that we can become more like him.
Brothers and sisters, let’s build the kind of legacy that—when time is done—it can’t ever be said that our greatest problem was failing to see.
Peace be with you …
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