I'm not sure if it was the Monster drink I consumed or the fumes of the oil stain I was breathing in while touching up the siding on our church "Fellowship Hall," but for about a half hour or so my vision was impaired today. It was sort of like tunnel vision. My peripheral vision was blurred (Maybe I should have checked to see if my pupils were dilated). Whatever the case, I might lay off energy drinks for a while, and next time I'm staining something I might wear a mask just to be safe. The thought of going blind just about scared me out of my mind!
Of course my first thoughts were about how it would affect my family and everyday activities. But interesting enough, because of my recent commitment to make a more exerted effort to knock doors in our community and share the Gospel (maybe because tonight is a "door-knocking" night it was particularly fresh on my mind), I began to think about how those evangelistic efforts would be effected. How long would it be before I could knock on doors with the assistance of my door-knocking partners (and perhaps a cane) and witness to people without being able to look them in the eyes and see their expression? (On second thought, maybe it would be a little easier to talk to people that way...)
I got to wondering. How hard it would be to continue preaching? Studying the Bible? Would I still use social media to communicate with friends and family (I have known blind people who use Facebook). How would I enjoy the beauty of God's creation? I would have to rely on sounds and descriptions dictated to me by others. No doubt, to say that going blind would be life changing is a gross understatement!
Thankfully my vision recovered, as I was pretty sure it would, and the answer to the question "What would change if I went blind?" may never be known. But the truth is, some life-changing event will certainly happen in my life and in yours. You or I or someone we love will get cancer or some other sickness, we will lose people we hold dear to our hearts, relationships will end, people will stab us in the back... The question is will we push forward and continue working on the most important things in life or will we fall into depression, seclude ourselves from others, and neglect others in our lives who still need us no matter what problems we are facing?
Trials are coming, so prepare your heart for them. Know your priorities. Know Who you serve. Paul said to Timothy, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
Are you persuaded?
Of course my first thoughts were about how it would affect my family and everyday activities. But interesting enough, because of my recent commitment to make a more exerted effort to knock doors in our community and share the Gospel (maybe because tonight is a "door-knocking" night it was particularly fresh on my mind), I began to think about how those evangelistic efforts would be effected. How long would it be before I could knock on doors with the assistance of my door-knocking partners (and perhaps a cane) and witness to people without being able to look them in the eyes and see their expression? (On second thought, maybe it would be a little easier to talk to people that way...)
I got to wondering. How hard it would be to continue preaching? Studying the Bible? Would I still use social media to communicate with friends and family (I have known blind people who use Facebook). How would I enjoy the beauty of God's creation? I would have to rely on sounds and descriptions dictated to me by others. No doubt, to say that going blind would be life changing is a gross understatement!
Thankfully my vision recovered, as I was pretty sure it would, and the answer to the question "What would change if I went blind?" may never be known. But the truth is, some life-changing event will certainly happen in my life and in yours. You or I or someone we love will get cancer or some other sickness, we will lose people we hold dear to our hearts, relationships will end, people will stab us in the back... The question is will we push forward and continue working on the most important things in life or will we fall into depression, seclude ourselves from others, and neglect others in our lives who still need us no matter what problems we are facing?
Trials are coming, so prepare your heart for them. Know your priorities. Know Who you serve. Paul said to Timothy, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
Are you persuaded?
