Eyes Opened
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Faith serves the believer for eyes, and makes him see what others cannot. This keeps the man himself quiet and calm, and enables him to check the fears of those who cry, “Alas, my master I how shall we do?” (verse 15).
From this narrative we learn how much may be about us, and yet it may be invisible to the natural eye. We shall use it to teach:
I. THAT THE NATURAL EYE is BLIND TO HEAVENLY THINGS.
God is everywhere; yet sin-blinded eyes see him not. His law touches the thoughts and intents of the heart;
yet its wonderful spiritual meaning is not perceived. Men themselves are evil, guilty, fallen; yet they see
not their own wounds, and bruises, and putrefying
sores. Their danger is imminent; yet they sport on, blindly
dancing at hell’s mouth. There is a man at Brighton
who wears a placard about his neck, on which are
these words, “I am quite blind.” This might suit
such foolish ones. Jesus is near, and ready to help; but their eyes are
holden so that they know not that it is Jesus. He is altogether lovely, and desirable, the sun of the soul,
yet is he altogether unknown. This want of spiritual discernment makes man ignoble.
Samson blinded is a sorry spectacle; from a judge in
Israel he sinks to a slave in Philistia. This keeps a man content with the world; he does not
see how poor a thing it is, for which he sweats, and
smarts, and sins, and sacrifices heaven. This causes many men to pursue the monotonous task
of avarice; never more aspiring after better things.
but pursuing the dreary round of incessant moil and
toil, as blind horses go round and round the mill. This makes men proud. They think they know all
things because they see so little of what can be
known. This places men in danger.” If the blind lead the
blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matt. xv. 14.
II. THAT GOD ALONE CAN OPEN MAN’S EYES.
We can lead the blind, but we cannot make them see; we can put truth before them, but we cannot open their eyes; that work remains with God alone.
Some use artificial eyes, others try spectacles, telescopes, colored glasses, etc., but all in vain, while the eyes arc blind. The cure is of the Lord alone.
1. To give sight is the same wonder as creation. Who can
make an eye? In the sinner the faculty of spiritual vision is gone.
2. The man is born blind. His darkness is part of himself.
“Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.” John ix. 32.
3. The man is wilfully blind. None so blind as those who
will not see. “The blind people that have eyes.” Is. xliii. 8.
4. Opening of the eyes is set down as a covenant blessing,
The Lord has given his Son “for a covenant of the people, to open the blind eyes.” Is. xlii. 6, 7. Satan counterfeited this in the garden when he said, “Your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods.” Gen. iii. 5.
III. THAT WE MAY PRAY HIM TO OPEN MEN’S EYES. We
ought to cry, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.”
1. When we see sinners in trouble it is a hopeful sign, and
we should pray for them with double importunity. Is. xxvi. 2.
2. When we hear them inquiring, we should inquire of the
Lord for them. Their prayer should call up ours.
3. When we ourselves see much, we should see for them.
4. When their blindness astonishes us, it should drive us to
our knees.
5. The prayers of others availed for us, and therefore we
ought to repay the blessing to the prayer-treasury of the church.
6. It will glorify God to open their eyes; let us pray
with great expectancy, believing that he will honor his Son.
IV. THAT GOD DOES OPEN MEN’S EYES.
1. He has done it in a moment. Notice the many miracles
performed by our Lord on blind men.
2. He specially opens the eyes of the young.” The Lord
opened the eyes of the young man.” See the text.
3. He can open your eyes. Many are the forms of blindness, but they are all comprehended in that grand statement, “The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind.” Ps. cxlvi. 8.
4. He can in an instant cause you to see his grace in its all-sufficiency and nearness. Hagar and the well. Gen. xxi. 19.
V. THAT EVEN THOSE WHO SEE NEED MOKE SIGHT. Elisba’s young man could see; yet he had his eyes more fully opened.
1. In the Scriptures more is to be seen. ‘” Open thou mine
eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Ps. cxix. 18.
2. In the great doctrines of the gospel there is much latent
light.
3. In Providence there are great marvels. To see God’s
hand in everything is a great attainment, specially glorifying to his name. Ps. cvii. 24.
4. In self, sin, Satan, etc., there are depths which it were
well for us to see. May we be men with our eyes
opened.
5. In Christ Jesus himself there are hidden glories.” Sir,
we would see Jesus.” John xii. 21; Heb. ii. 9. Have you spiritual sight? Then behold angels and spiritual things. Better still — behold your Lord!
GLEANINGS.
One of the saddest conditions of a human creature is to read God’s word with a veil upon the heart, to pass blindfolded through all the wondrous testimonies of redeeming love and grace which the Scriptures contain. And it is sad, also, if not actually censurable, to pass blindfolded through the works of God, to live in a world of flowers, and stars, and sunsets, and a thousand glorious objects of nature, and never to have a passing interest awakened by any of them. — Dean Ooulbourn.
A lady once said to Turner, when he was painting: “Why do you put such extravagant colors into your pictures? I never see anything like them in nature.”” Don’t you wish you did, madam?” said he. It was a sufficient answer. He saw them, if she did not. So believers, like the prophet, see many divine wonders which worldlings cannot perceive.
If his word once teach us, shoot a ray
Through all the heart’s dark chambers, and reveal
Truths undiscerned but by that holy light,
Then all is plain.
—Cowper.
The dying prayer of William Tyndale, the martyr, uttered “with a fervent zeal and a loud voice,” was this: “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!”