Mike Gilland
This past Thursday found me doing something that happens much more often now than in prior years. I have quarterly eye checkups to monitor some fairly significant issues with my vision, and ever since this new phase of my life began, I have had a newfound appreciation for my sight.
It is clear to see (pardon the pun) to what degree I took my vision for granted all those years leading up to this season. As one person quipped, “You didn’t have any problems…until you did.”
So, as I was sitting in the waiting room at my ophthalmologist’s office, these thoughts came rushing to my mind. First, our ability to see opens up to us the world of discovery—the vista of all that is right in front of us.
We can enjoy the beauty of scenery, the wonder of God’s creation, and even the traffic in front of us on I-75! Well, we may not enjoy that traffic, but at least we can see it.
The amazing gift that God gave us in sight is expansive, allowing us to see and love our children, our grandchildren, our family and friends. We are able to enjoy hobbies and passions, relish the sunsets over the western sky, and read books on all sorts of subjects and fields of interest.
There is also a type of vision that has nothing to do with our physical eyes, but instead the “eyes of understanding.” There is a type of vision and imagery in the Bible that deals with our comprehension and responses to culture and society.
In 1 Chronicles 12:32, there is the mention of “the Sons of Issachar.” Check out this description of this group of people: “From the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.”
What a statement: They were able to “see through” their day, getting a proper glance at all that was going on around them. And that ability, that knowledge, gave them wisdom for needed action. They understood their culture, and they knew how to respond.
We’ve all heard of the benefit of “20/20 hindsight.” But the children of Issachar were able to see into their day, and know what to do in their present moment on into the future.
I am grateful for my eyes, for the fact that I can still see the beautiful face of my wife and enjoy the beauty of our world. But I am also grateful that God gave us His Word, with which we can apply spiritual vision to our souls, our families, our churches and our jobs.
With His wisdom, we can see into our day with discernment and confidence, and know what we should do.