Seeing the Savior

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Some of us know people who are blind or whose eyes are failing.

That's why we can understand the story of Rose Crawford, who had been blind since birth. I am pleased to report that after delicate eye surgery she can see. Crawford wept at the beautiful colors that greeted her after the bandages were removed. So far her story doesn't sound all that extraordinary, does it?

Sadly, that is not the case.

You see, 20 years of her blindness had been completely unnecessary. Crawford hadn't kept up on the almost miraculous advances that had been made in surgery and technology. As a result, she never knew procedures had been developed that would have restored her vision when she was 30.

Crawford's doctor said, "She just figured there was nothing that could be done. If she had, much of her life could have been different."

In contrast to Crawford, we have the story of our Savior's life.

From before His birth Jesus knew there would be no cure, no technology, no surgery, no miracle that would change His destiny. The Heavenly Father was not going to come up with some new plan for humankind's salvation. There was going to be no last-minute reprieve. So we might be forgiven, Jesus had to carry our sins. So we might live forever, He had to die the death our transgressions had earned.

Now, because Jesus accepted, endured and embraced His life, which ended in that cruel and unjust suffering and death, all who believe on Him as Savior are forgiven and saved. That is God's Good News.

The bad news is this: many millions of people don't know that blood-bought truth. Rose Crawford in the story above was blind, unnecessarily blind, but the people I'm speaking about now are in a far worse condition than was she. They are blind spiritually.

They have not seen what Jesus has done for them and, if they have seen, they have not believed, and they continue to wander in the darkness.

You know, it was a tragedy that nobody told Rose Crawford about the wonderful advances which had been made in the world of eye surgery, but it is a greater tragedy when those who know the Gospel do not share the story of salvation with those who do not.

This is why I challenge you to join me in telling the spiritually blind about Jesus, their divine Doctor who can bring light and life to those who are living in the dark.

Dear Lord, we give thanks that through the Holy Spirit's working we have seen You. We have seen how You accepted the Father's plan as being the only way by which we could be saved. Help us to share it whenever and with whomever we can. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.