EVERYTHING WE NEED: The Eyes Have It
Karen Michell
The eye is one of the most important and complex sensory organs that God designed for our benefit. Through them, we can see the beauty of His creation — the trees, the lakes, as well as the stars, the moon and the sun, which are millions of miles away. Our eyes are truly amazing.
It is said that the eye is the window to the soul, meaning it reveals our innermost feelings and emotions. By looking into someone’s eyes, you can see happiness, sadness, pain, fear, anger and other emotions. We communicate with our eyes without ever saying a word. They tell the truth, even when a smile tries to hide how we truly feel inside.
The Bible speaks about our own eyes and, also God’s. These verses give us comfort, knowledge and instruction: “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…” (II Chron. 16:9 NIV). Asa, king of Judah, took treasures from the Lord’s temple to bribe Benhadad, the pagan king of Syria, to join him in his battle against Israel. Hanani the seer rebuked Asa and said he had done a very foolish thing by not relying upon God. As a result, he lost that battle.
When faced with an overwhelming problem, fear often makes us want to take action immediately or seek help elsewhere. When we fail to seek God’s help first, it is evident that our hearts are not fully committed to Him. Think what comfort we have in knowing that His eyes go throughout the earth on our behalf.
“At a glance, He takes in our position; not a sorrow, trial, or temptation visits us without exciting His notice and loving sympathy. In all the whole wide earth, there is not one spot so lonely, one heart so darkened, as to escape those eyes.” (Meyer)
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Prov. 15:3).However, only the righteous — those totally committed to Him — will He strengthen and give an attentive ear to their prayer (I Peter 3:10-12).
How can we respond to God’s all-seeing eye? In Matt.6:22-23, Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” In the prior verses and the ones after, Jesus talks about materialism. He says we are not to store treasures on earth where they will not last, but rather to store up treasures in Heaven. We “cannot serve both God and money” (v. 24).
Focusing on godly things, our eyes are healthy, and our bodies are full of light. It is a testimony that we are walking with God and have fellowship with Him. If we are focused on things of the world, we are filled with darkness. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (I John 2:15-17).That’s why Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).
The Hebrew writer says we should throw off everything that hinders and easily entraps us so we can finish our race well. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2).
The eyes have it! Where are ours focused?