This past week I had my annual eye exam. I started wearing glasses almost sixty years ago when my eyes would get tired when doing all the reading required in college and seminary. Since that time, I have had several changes in my eye prescriptions as my vision changed with age. This last visit was good in that there was very little change in my prescription for glasses from last year. So that saved me a fairly significant amount of money. However, my doctor did spend some time talking to me about cataracts and the fact that I was moving closer to cataract surgery. When I think of cataract surgery, I remember that saying we all had as children: "Cross my heart and hope to die; stick a needle in my eye." Okay, okay! One day I will get brave and make the appointment, but for now, that saying is still in my mind.
The truth is that all of us want to see well. We want to be able to see our loved ones, the beauty in God's creation, the words in our favorite books, and countless other things along our walk through life. But do you ever want to see just a little farther down the road? I am not referring to the next mile marker on the highway or the next fast food billboard. I am really asking about being able to see what will be the end or continuing result of the choices or decisions we make each day.
If you have followed this blog for a while, you know that part of the basis for this entire website and blog is found in the Bible in Matthew 7:13-14.
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy
that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those
who find it are few."
When you look at the first descriptions of each of these gates or roads that Jesus described in the above verses, your immediate reaction is that the wide gate has the upper hand. Afterall, it is wide and easy as opposed to the narrow gate that is narrow and hard. The other seemingly positive regarding the wide gate or road is that many people choose that way while only a few choose the narrow way. Wide, easy, and many other travelers would seem to make this a simple choice.
Too often this is the way we make choices in life not realizing that it is very short-sighted. We fail to take a look down the road to see where it truly leads. What is the end result of the wide and easy way - destruction! If you considered each decision or choice you make and saw that the end result was destruction, would you make that same choice? On the other hand, the end result of the narrow way that is hard leads to life. Knowing that life that is abundant and fulfilling comes from this choice, do you decide that the end result is truly important?
There is a verse in the Bible found in Proverbs 4:25 that reminds us of where our eyes should be looking.
"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be
straight before you."
The Psalmist even prayed regarding what he desired to focus his eyes upon in Psalm 119:37.
"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things,
and give me life in your ways."
There are many things in this world along a broad, wide road that call for our attention. Each of them wants to reshape our lives by what products we buy, how we behave, what we think, and what we value. Jesus warned us that while that road in life looks easy and has many subscribers, it ultimately leads to destruction.
But when we choose the road that Jesus calls us to, it leads to life. He is upfront in that it is hard and not many choose that path. But the end result is well worth choosing this narrow gate or road.
Every choice or decision we make in life has some type of result. We make see that result immediately or the result may be years away. So what should we be doing in our daily decison-making? The words from Matthew 7:13-14 were a call from Jesus about our choice to either follow Him or to not follow Him. He even told us what the result of each choice would be, but He left the choice up to us.
Eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, and sometimes surgery help to correct our physical vision. Spiritual vision doesn't result from these medical procedures. It results from a relationship with Jesus. I may not always know where every decision I make will lead, but I can sense God's leadership in what is the best decision I should make each time.
This week I pray that your eyes are looking to the Lord as you make decisions that have a lasting result.
Comments