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Jamie Johnson
14 June 2024

Their Eyes Were Opened

I remember before I was saved, the Bible just didn't make sense. Sure, I would read a verse here and there, but overall, it didn't make sense. Upon being saved, something (obviously) changed. While I cannot claim to make perfect sense of every aspect of Scripture, the Holy Spirit works in me that I may discern and understand what I read. That's not to my credit, but glory to God. I'm a beggar just like anyone else. I just know where the food is because He has shown me.

It's kind of like growing up in the church prior to faith. I would say the Lord's Prayer and Apostle's Creed by rote memory. Yet, the words would just roll out of my mouth. I didn't know what I was saying. How glorious a day it was upon believing when I actually knew what I was saying in the prayer and creed and appreciated the words and how they bolstered my new faith. All praise to God!

My eyes had to be opened. Yes, this miniscule, single human being on a blue orb floating in space had to have his eyes opened. And God did it.

This occurred also in Luke 24:28-31 after Jesus' resurrection. A couple of Jesus' followers were on the road to Emmaus and encountered Him, but did not recognize Him. Their eyes were not yet opened. After a conversation, the following occurred in Luke 6:28-31 (NIV):

But they urged Him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him..."

They invited Jesus in. He did something -- thanksgiving and provision -- and their eyes were opened. We need to invite Jesus in to those various places of our lives -- all places -- that our eyes may also be opened.

However, I must ask the same question that is asked in Psalm 8:4 (NIV):

What is man that you are mindful of
     him,
  the son of man that you care for
     him?

We are like (or even less than) little ants on a blue marble floating in a solar system in huge galaxy in a vast universe, all which God created! Yet, we complain and fret over our problems here. Still, God does care. Our problems seem big, but God is bigger than the universe He created, the galaxy He created, the solar system He created, the earth He created, the people He created and the problems we face. We need a perspective change -- a heart change. Our eyes need to be opened. May we invite Him in that He may open our eyes, change our hearts, that we trust in Him.

Do you know Jesus? He is God in the flesh. And out of His love, He laid down His life on the cross, taking our sins upon Himself, and after burial and bodily resurrection, offers us new life -- His righteousness for our sin. That is His work. Have you accepted this free gift from Him? Have you let Him in?

Consider the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:20 (NIV):

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

He cares for you. He's knocking on the door of your heart. Open the door, let Him in that your eyes may be opened.


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