SPIRITUALLY NEARSIGHTED -- Monday:
"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." (2 Peter 1:9)
When we are born again, we receive sound spiritual vision–we are "illuminated" (Heb 10:32), or "enlightened" (Heb 6:4). At that time, by faith, we are able to perceive things in the distant future, and make appropriate preparations for them. These include the resurrection of the dead, the coming of the Lord Jesus, and the day of judgment. Even though everything about these key events is not known, they are seen with sufficient clarity to affect the way we think, speak, and live. That keen vision, however, must be maintained, or it will deteriorate, causing us to be nearsighted–unable to see "afar off." Our text deals with such a situation.
It is important to observe that spiritual life requires the type of vision in question–seeing "afar off." If due consideration is not given to the Divine appointments that have been revealed, Satan will gain the advantage over us, and we will forget we were cleansed from sin. In that state of spiritual obtuseness, grace will be forfeited, and sin will dominate us.
The spirit does not define the precise process through which this deterioration of soul takes place. He does, however, provide us the evidence that it has taken place, and what we can do to avoid its occurrence in ourselves.
Motivated by the "exceeding great and precious promises of God" (1:4), the believer is to diligently increase his grasp on eternal life. Having "obtained like precious faith" (1:1), we are to supplement that faith with "virtue" (moral excellence, being able to choose good and refuse evil), "knowledge" (working acquaintance with the truth), "temperance" (self control, or keeping control of the flesh), "patience" (endurance, or constancy), "godliness" (God-likeness, or holiness), "brotherly kindness" (fervent love for, and tenderheartedness towards, God's people), and "charity" (a consistent and thoughtful love like that which Christ has for us)–1:8-7.
The possession of these spiritual qualities is effective for the accomplishment of God's will within us. With them, spiritual and moral deficiency are not possible, and fruitfulness is guaranteed. "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v 8). Notice, they are not simply to be present to some degree, but are to "abound," or be abundant and in increasing measures. If that condition exists, we will NOT be "barren," ineffectiveness (NIV), or uselessness (NASB). Their abounding presence guarantees that will not happen. We will also avoid being "unfruitful," or unproductiveness (NIV} "in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. That, too, is a guarantee that cannot fail of fulfillment. It is tragic that many give so little consideration to the danger of being "barren and unfruitful."
But what if these qualities (virtue, knowledge, patience . . . etc.) are not found in a person? What if they are lacking? The Spirit is forthright with us on this point. He makes no attempt to salve our conscience, or lead us to believe such a condition is in any way acceptable. The person lacking these traits "is blind, and cannot see afar off." He is "blind" to things close at hand, and "nearsighted" concerning what is in the future. In other words, he does not know what is really happening now, and gives no consideration to what is coming. Such a person may deny this condition exists. But it DOES exist wherever these qualities are not found.
It is not simply that the person does not see afar off, he "CANNOT" see afar off. His lack of things "pertaining to life and godliness" has rendered him incapable of seeing what a person NEEDS to see to arrive safely before the Judge of all the earth! Nearsightedness is a condition, not an attitude, whether it is in the flesh or in the spirit! It is produced by the neglect of the soul, and will lead to one losing his soul if not corrected.
The gravity of this state is emphasized by these additional words: "and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." One might wonder how such a signal event could be "forgotten." It is because of the distractions that are daily confronted by all of us. There are eroding influences surrounding us, and they are all aggressive. If we do not neutralize these impressions, they will eventually push the recollection of our justification beyond reach. We will thus live just as though no change had really occurred in us at all.
The church at Laodicea had lapsed into such a state. Jesus admonished them to correct it immediately: "anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see" (Rev 3:18). How about your vision? Are you nearsighted?
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for providing a way for me to see the things the truth clearly and with conviction.