“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4
Some of us know people who are blind or whose eyes are failing.
That’s why we can understand the story of Rose Crawford, who had been blind since birth. I am pleased to report that after delicate eye surgery she can see. Crawford wept at the beautiful colors that greeted her after the bandages were removed. So far her story doesn’t sound all that extraordinary, does it?
Sadly, that is not the case.
You see, 20 years of her blindness had been completely unnecessary. Crawford hadn’t kept up on the almost miraculous advances that had been made in surgery and technology. As a result, she never knew procedures had been developed that would have restored her vision when she was 30.
Crawford’s doctor said, “She just figured there was nothing that could be done. If she had, much of her life could have been different.”
In contrast to Crawford, we have the story of our Savior’s life.
From before His birth Jesus knew there would be no cure, no technology, no surgery, no miracle that would change His destiny. The Heavenly Father was not going to come up with some new plan for humankind’s salvation. There was going to be no last-minute reprieve. So we might be forgiven, Jesus had to carry our sins. So we might live forever, He had to die the death our transgressions had earned.
Now, because Jesus accepted, endured and embraced His life, which ended in that cruel and unjust suffering and death, all who believe on Him as Savior are forgiven and saved. That is God’s Good News.
The bad news is this: many millions of people don’t know that blood-bought truth. Rose Crawford whom I mentioned in the story above was blind, unnecessarily blind, but the people I’m speaking about now are in a far worse condition than was she. They are blind spiritually.
They have not seen what Jesus has done for them and, if they have seen, they have not believed, and they continue to wander in the darkness.
You know, it was a tragedy that nobody told Rose Crawford about the wonderful advances which had been made in the world of eye surgery, but it is a greater tragedy when those who know the Gospel do not share the story of salvation with those who do not.
This is why I invite you to join me in trying to tell the spiritually blind about Jesus, their divine Doctor who can bring light and life to those who are living in the dark.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I give thanks that through the Holy Spirit’s working I have seen You. I have seen how You accepted the Father’s plan as being the only way by which I could be saved. Make me appreciative of Your sacrifice and grant me the courage and will to share it whenever and with whomever we can. In Your Name I ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
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