“I thought that door molding was beige, but it is white. Wow!” That seems the best description for the morning after my recent cataract surgery on my right eye. If I looked with only my left eye and then my right the different was amazing. Vision in my left remained yellowish and dull. Over the years, the eye lens become progressively opaque but occurs so gradual people do not notice the change and think the clearness of their vision remains the same as always. I cannot wait for surgery on my left eye.
Of course, all this got my brain going. I begin wondering if this slow loss of light, clarity, and sharpness happens spiritually. Jesus cautioned, in the last days because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold (Mat 24:12). The word translated grows cold, literally means to chill gradually as melted wax hardens. As a kid, I loved making candles from blocks of wax my mom kept for canning. I melted it, poured it in a mold, and anxiously waited for it to harden. Wait was the correct word. Every few minutes I would touch it to see if it had hardened yet. This continued until by mom reminded me, as she did every time it would take all night, wax hardens slowly. In this verse, Jesus warns the change in our love also happens gradual and even unnoticed.
All believers encounter complacency at times through life. I often hear Christians say they are in a spiritual rut or a dry spell. We can fall into a comfort zone between the things of this world and a lack of total commitment to the Lord. We avoid acknowledging it, but are usually aware something is wrong. We know our relationship with Christ should be better. In contrast, the place of greater spiritual danger creeps up like cataracts slowly clouding our spiritual vision without us being aware.
We may need a spiritual checkup. No one looks forward to an annual physical from the doctor. However, many, myself included, are alive today because we went for an examination and our physician discovered something that could have led to death even though we were unaware of any symptoms. Paul told the Corinthian church, examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves (2 Co 13:5). Each time we take communion, a man must examine himself (1Co 11:28). Paul also warned not to compare yourself with others (Gal 6:4 MSG). It is too easy to feel comfortable by saying, “I’m as spiritual as everyone else in the church.” How would you respond if your doctor told you, “Well, you sure aren’t heathy, but at least you are in better health than my last patient”? Instead, our doctor compares us to an established set of medical guidelines—glucose level, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. A Christian’s standard of reference must be Jesus.
We should strive to become like Christ until our last minute on earth. A. W. Tozer said, the person who believes he has arrived will not go any further. I imagine we would all feel good if we reached the level of the Apostle Paul, but note his goal. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect . . . I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:12, 14).
Just living in this fast pace world can affect our relationship with Christ. Typically, people grab a few minutes sometimes during the day or before bed to read their Bible and pray, and then go to church on Sunday. At times, we must break the routine for a spiritual examination. The common excuse people give for not going to the doctor for a physical, “I just don’t have time.” My visit to the Ophthalmologist required me to set aside almost an entire day considering she dilated my eye leaving me with limited vision for the remainder of the day. Columbia International University, where I did my graduate studies set aside several days during the semester for ‘Prayer Day’. Everything stopped, every office closed, no classes took place, no studying allowed during that time in order to focus on the Lord. Selected individuals led students, teachers, secretaries, grounds keepers in a variety of activities—corporate prayer, individual prayer, group prayer, testimonies, and praise. These remain my fondest memories of Graduate School. These days became a time for a spiritual checkup and brought spiritual growth.
I met a few individuals during my life that don’t get checkups because they would rather not know. Knowing the truth physically and spiritually can bring discomfort. Because I was awake during the procedure, my surgery was uncomfortable, but worth the results. A key factor after the Holy Spirit shows us areas needing change; we must act upon His prescription. My eye doctor told me two years ago I was a candidate for the surgery. The choice was mine, but I believed my sight was OK. Was I wrong!
Sustaining Word for the Week: Compare yourself with Jesus. Examine yourself, examine your works, examine your love, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas in which you may have grown dull.