What do you see?

The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly (..)” (Jeremiah 1:11-12a).

When the Lord asks us questions it is not because he does not see, or because he is unknowing. No, the Lord asks us questions to open our eyes and give us understanding. He wants us to see what he sees. Jeremiah did. He saw correctly. This is, however, not always the case for those who call themselves disciples of Jesus

In the Gospel of John we find three disciples who saw the same, but still made completely different conclusions of what they saw.

1. Mary Magdalene

Early on the first day of week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone hand been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (John 20:1-2).

Jesus had told his disciples that he would be handed over to the Gentiles, to suffer, die and rise from death. Mary Magdalene had heard this but now it was as if Jesus' words were gone from her mind.

What did Mary Magdalene see? She saw an empty tomb. Jesus' body was not there because he was raised from death. She did not believe this at the time. And because she did not believe she was lost. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith (...) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).

Mary Magdalene thought that Jesus' tomb had been visited by grave robbers who had taken his dead body. Although she was a disciple of Jesus, Mary Magdalene had an old way of thinking, and did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Mary Magdalene was in tradition.

2. Simon Peter

Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there. As well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. (John 20:6-7).

What did Peter see? He saw an empty tomb, but he also saw something more. He saw that the cloth and the strips of linen were not where they should be. And Peter made a theory about why it was so.

When we are inexperienced with spiritual truths, we will try to explain our doubts and disbelief with a theory like Peter did. Peter was in a serious situation because he did not believe that Jesus was resurrected. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. (Mark 16:14).

3. John

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (John 20:8).

What did John see? He saw the same as Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter. He saw an empty tomb. But John saw more than an empty tomb. With eyes of faith, he saw that Jesus was resurrected! This is revelation.

Three of the disciples of Jesus saw the same thing, but all three had different conclusion. One was in Tradition, the second in Theory and the third in Revelation.

The Lord’s question to Jeremiah is still highly relevant: What do you see?

What causes us not to see?

As we study the word of God, we see that there are seven things that causes us to not see. We will look at all seven, for the Lord wants his people to see.

1. Contempt for the Lord

Scriptures: 1. Samuel 2:12, 17, 25, 30, 3:1, 2, 4:10, 11, 15, 18.

The first thing that makes God's people spiritually blind is contempt for the Lord.

Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. (2:12). They took the Lord's sacrifice for themselves. This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight; for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt. (2:17).

Eli, the high priest, heard the rumors about the evil that his sons were doing and he told them that they deceived the people by their actions: His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. (2:25b).

What Eli should have done in this serious situation was to take them out of their service and punish them hard. But he did not. He let them continue the service, and continue to deceive the people. By not acting according to the will of God Eli also despised the Lord. Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever. But now the Lord declares: Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. (2:30).

The high priest Eli's task was to guard the flock of God, Israel, by giving them the word of God, and leading them on the way of righteousness.

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. (3:1-2). We see that the consequences of Eli's contempt was that he came into a spiritual and physical darkness. Eli became blind. (...) was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. (4:15).

In the darkness that prevailed their enemies came, the Philistines. So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (4:10-11).

When Eli heard that the ark of God was taken, he (...) fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died.(4:18).

This story teaches us that contempt for the Lord leads to blindness, which will give serious consequences, both for oneself and for those one is appointed to lead. When someone does evil, we must treat them according to God's word, regardless of whether he or she is a family member or a partner or associate in the ministry.

Let me give you an example. If it is discovered that someone who gives a lot to the church is living in sin, fear of that he will stop giving can not prevent us from talking him to repentance. That would be to despise the Lord!

2. Unclean lips

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.“ (...) He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:5, 9-10).

The second reason why the people of God are spiritually blind is unclean lips.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (...) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (...) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (Ephesians 4:29-39, 5:4,6).

In Isaiah’s days unclean lips in form of backbiting, gossip, rotten and indecent talk were so common in Israel that even the prophet was unclean. When Isaiah saw the Lord in his glory he saw his own impurity, which made him say “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips”.

The unclean lips in Israel made them unable to see with their eyes so that their heart could be healed. This blindness comes when God’s people let unclean talk come out of their mouth so that it grieves the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives revelation, light and guidance through God's word. When he withdraws it leads to spiritual blindness and darkness. We should not take this lightly for it is written: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (Ephesians 5:6).

3. Rebellion

The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. (Ezekiel 12:1-2).

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king. (1 Samuel 15:23).

The third thing that leads to spiritual blindness is rebellion. These scriptures tells us that rebellion is to reject the word of the Lord, and that it can be compared to the sin of witchcraft. The Lord told Ezekiel that he lived among a rebellious people, who had eyes but could not see. Rebellion makes one becomes spiritually blind.

King Saul received a word from the Lord that he would ”…punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” (1 Samuel 15:2-3).

Saul went off to initiate the Lord's word. He killed the people and spared no one except Agag, king of the Amalekites. “He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs-everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.” (1 Samuel 15:8-9). Half done is not good enough! When Samuel confronted Saul with this, Saul made excuses, saying he intended to sacrifice the animals to the Lord(1 Samuel 15:21).

When we try to spiritualize our selfish actions, God is not pleased. In the eyes of the Almighty God, this is rebellion, and it will lead to spiritual blindness! Because of this action Saul lost his crown. Revelation 3:11 says: “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.“

When we know that the Lord has spoken to us through his word, it is rebellion to not do as he says. As we have seen it will lead to spiritual blindness and if we do not repent we will lose the crown of life!

4. Hypocrisy

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5).

The fourth thing that makes one spiritually blind is hypocrisy.

We all make mistakes and commit sin against God. It is only by God's grace we are saved and preserved. If we sin, we can come to God, ask for forgiveness and continue our walk with Jesus. This should make us all humble enough to mind our own business.

He who discovered the speck in his brothers eye, while he had a plank in his own, did not mind his own business. To point out the speck in his brother's eye is to expose his mistakes and sins, which is not right. Know that with a plank in the eye, it is impossible to see. Jesus called this hypocrisy. With a plank in the eye, this hypocrisy will lead to spiritual blindness.

Jesus came to the world to save that which was lost. He came to restore and heal a fallen humanity back to God. When let the same mind that was in Christ be in us, will we not expose our brother's sins and mistakes, but we will seek to restore him back to God. This is called the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Our brother doesn’t necessarily see the speck in his eye, because it’s just visible from the outside. When we carefully take it out of his eye, he could see normally, and we have restored our brother. If our "service" however, is to point out and expose the speck in our brothers eyes simultaneously as there is a plank in our own eye, we are spiritual blind.

5. Unbelief

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The fifth that makes one spiritually blind is unbelief.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

“Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:6).

When we hear the word of God preached it expects a response from us. Isaiah says about the word of God that “it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11).

When we are disobedient to the word of God that we hear, we will not enter the rest that God has for us. Unbelief will also prevent us from seeing the light of the gospel of Christ. God has no pleasure in disbelief, and whoever has it cannot expect to receive anything from God. Without repentance unbelief would ultimately keep one from getting into the final resting place; heaven.

6. Impurity

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14).

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a person is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:5).

The sixth thing that leads to spiritual blindness is impurity. God is holy, and he tells us to be holy. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1.Peter 1:15-16).

If God’s people live in immorality and other impurity; they will not see the Lord! An immoral and impure life leads to spiritual blindness and darkness.

7. Pride

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Revelation 3:17-18).

Pride is the seventh thing that makes spiritually blind. The reason for this is that: “…God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6b).

The verses above are written to the last church, Laodicea. Laodicea means “governed by the people”, and this characterized the church. Laodicea held services where they preached and song about their lord, while the church's Lord was not even among them: ”Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20).

Laodicea boasted of their abundance and wealth, when in reality they were wretched, miserable and poor. In their pride, they did not only equalize their own words with God's Word, but they made the Word of God invalid. The people governed, not Jesus and his words. In their blindness they continued to "serve God" without even noticing his absence among themselves.

Laodicea is the last church epoch here on earth. One of the signs that show Jesus’ return is close, is the prophetic ministry knocking on the door of those who are inside this system; seeking to open their eyes.

Those who come to Jesus will have their eyes opened by the Lord's eye ointment. Those who don't will be separated from Jesus for all eternity.”So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16).

What happens with those who see?

Before answering this question, let us go back to the scripture that we started with, and continue to read what the Lord said to Jeremiah.

The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” (Jeremiah 1:11-12).

The Lord watches over His Word and He will fulfill it for those who sees right. Two things that happens with those who see.

1. They become what they see

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2. Corinthians 3:18).

2. They receive what they see

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, And I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1).

Jesus died for us that we might become God's children. This means that God has a supernatural life for us, a life that we live by faith. If we live the life God has for us, we must be able to see with the eyes of faith as John did, like we read in the beginning of this teaching.

Maria and Peter were also disciples, but they lived in tradition and theories. That will, however, not please God. He wants us to see!

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

What do you see?