Nearsighted Christian (guest devotion)
Nearsighted Christian by Anthony Cooksey
2 Peter 1:5-11
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are your and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
We are blinded. We are in a daze; a dream world of our own creation, headed for a cliff that we do not know even exists because we can’t see it. Because we refuse to acknowledge that there is a cliff at all. And that is our undoing. That is the state in which we have become walking corpses; already checked out of the real life that is happening all around us because we have lost our sight, either willingly or without our knowing. We are not vigilant because we do see how vital it truly is. We are not preparing because we don’t see the battle raging. We are not striving or growing or stretching or pursuing because we have been lulled to sleep. We have been devoured by evil in disguise of ease; in disguise of “normal life.” The wolf of death clothed in life’s comforts that looks increasingly sheepish.
1 Peter 5:6-9
‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
Be sober-minded; be watchful. You cannot see the lion if you are not watching. You will not know he even exists if you are too intoxicated to think. Drunk on the soothing libations of life that blur your vision; cloud your judgement; slowly destroying your soul. Alcoholics do not know they are such after the first time they take a drink. It is a slow, dark, all-consuming pace, that many are unaware their journey has begun, until it is too late. We are all susceptible to this addiction in one form or another. It may not be alcohol that sinks its teeth in us, but rather it may be success or the pursuit of happiness.
Mundane. Dull. Routine. Comfortable.
Ponder, for a moment, your yesterday; your last week; your last year. Was it consumed with, and filled to the absolute brim with nothing? For many Christians, every day is the same on repeat. We have become comfortable in our patterns of life. We have gently slipped into a structured rhythm that may appear, at least, to have a rhyme and a reason. We must attend our jobs, take our kids to school, go to church on Sundays. We have obligations; normal, boring, everyday obligations.
Is that it?? Is the totality of your life to be a good husband/wife? To earn enough money? To have happy children and a couple good friends? To achieve the “American dream”? That is NOT enough. That wont do. The “American dream” is the biggest waste of a life that I can think of. We have been so cleverly deceived that our story is only limited to this earth. That our greatest achievements can come in the form of physical earnings. WAKE UP. Be sober-minded. The drink that is being given to us is not good for us. Its poison.
When was the last time you looked up and had a moment of clarity? Have you ever? Is there a light in your eyes? Or has the world stolen your wonder? We have lost our ability to gaze in adornment at the majesty of this life. We struggle to stop and ask, “What is the point of all of this?” Think for one moment about the first sentence of the bible: Gen 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is one of the most “sobering” verses in the entire bible. There is a God. Do we actually believe that? And if we claim to, does that belief have any effect on how we see our time on this earth? Why are we here??
Humble yourselves daily. And allow that humility to sober your mind; to wake you from your slumber; to broaden your vision. Your life will only be filled if you seek first the kingdom of God.
So seek. Pursue. Stay awake. Lift up your eyes and worship.