Exposing What Hides In the Shadows

Eph 1:17-23 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, (18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might (20) that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (22) And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, (23) which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Joh_12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."

Ever get up at night and try to find the bath room or the kitchen in the dark. Sometimes the perception of our eyes in the dark makes us see things that aren’t there and unable to see things that are there. Once the light comes on and our eyes adjust it is much easier to perceive our surroundings. Before that, while in the darkness we may even wander into danger without knowing it. How close we could be to stepping of the landing and plummeting down the stair well or tripping and falling on an obstacle.

1Jn_2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

God has given us an amazing treasure that is described in Ephesians. Unfortunately, until He turns the light on we remain completely oblivious to it and unable to perceive it. We are spiritually blind. With the light off we stumble and step precariously around dangerous objects and completely blind to the gift that is right in our presence.

2Co_4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

In the darkness of my own home I may stub my toe or trip and fall over an unseen object. But in the darkness of my own heart I miss the risen Christ, the one who is seated at the right hand of God. He is above every name that is named thoughout all of history and beyond all time and places. I remain in the dark and unable to worship and enjoy and fear and love and treasure this marvelous gift and the gift of eternal salvation in the presence of a Holy God for all eternity. I remain outside of the fellowship of the Church, which is his body and the fulness of him who fill all in all. I remain unaware that I am in darkness and that I need this gift of God that is Christ. I fail to give Him homage as the ruler of all authority and power and dominion. I do not bow down to Him. I remain blind to the treasure that is yet so close but my eyes and heart do not perceive it is there. I do not have the hope that is provided by the Risen Saviour.

I am born blind in this way, with spiritual blindness, a lover of the darkness. Like a roach that scurries to hide in the shadows when the light comes on, I hated the exposure of the light and knowledge of what it showed me. Each and every day pray that God will continue to send His Spirit and open the eyes of your heart that you may see and love and worship the Son who is life.