Scripture
17You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Revelation 3:17-19
Observation
If you were blind wouldn’t you know it when you bumped into something? If you were naked wouldn’t you feel it when that draft of wind came through? If you were poor wouldn’t you realize it when you went to buy food and couldn’t? Laodicea was a noted commercial center, and some of its goods were exported all over the world. The city prided itself on three things: financial wealth, an extensive textile industry, and a popular eye-salve which was exported around the world.” (Mounce) Sadly, the church in Laodicea looked just like the city- completely blind to the pride they were living in and trusting in their own self-sufficiency. Jesus wasn’t pointing these things out to mock them but to open their eyes to what they really looked like. He was saying, “Look at Me and stop looking at yourself and the culture around you because it’s the blind leading the blind.” He was curing their inattentional blindness. This is the psychological reality that we don't actually perceive most of what comes in front of us because we are focused on too many other things. We actually have to make a choice on what we’re paying attention to. That’s why Jesus is asking us to buy salve for our eyes. It’s an active choice to humble ourselves and acknowledge our need for help. He won’t do it for us but He offers Himself to us. We must humble ourselves and admit we’ve been passively going through life and pride has blinded us to our actual state. Turns out… it’s time for an eye exam.
Application
So, I’m turning 50 exactly 2 months from today. I was in the ophthalmologist a few weeks ago and I sat down for a routine eye exam. The doctor asked me to put a cover over my left eye and to read any of the lines on the wall about 15 feet away. I had always prided myself on my 20/20 vision while many in my family have needed glasses for most to their lives. I’ve never had an issue reading the letters during an exam. This time, however, something had changed. For the first time in my life I couldn’t read the bottom lines. They looked like blurry symbols. So much so that I actually asked, “Are those symbols or letters?” She laughed and said, “Those are letters. Can you read any of them? No squinting.” I was honestly aghast and surprised as I was only able to make out a few of the letters on the top line. I fared much better with the left eye. She said this was why I had no idea I needed glasses. The strength of my left eye has been compensating for the weakness of my right eye and telling my brain I could see just fine. In disbelief I asked, “Is this what happens when you turn 50?” She smiled and said, “yes, this is what happens.” So, now I’m going back to my ophthalmologist tomorrow to do something I never thought I’d have to… get fitted for glasses. The doctor wasn’t being hurtful, she was being helpful when she pointed out my eyes needed some aid. Jesus isn’t being hurtful, He’s being helpful when He points out the pride that has been blinding us. We’ve been bumping in to the same sin, walking around exposed while refusing cover, and denying the provision of The Cross because we can provide for ourselves just fine, thank you very much! We can buy in to the lie of our echo chamber that simply repeats back to us what we want to hear or we can get on our knees before Healer who is knocking at the door and say, “I repent. I need You. Open my eyes as I choose to focus on You in this month of solitude ahead.”
Prayer
You are amazing Jesus. You give the best promise to the worst of the seven churches in Revelation because You just want to be with us. Heal our eyes to see that when You call us to fast, to Sabbath, to solitude, silence, and quiet its not to hurt us but to heal us. You actually just want to see us fully restored. How? You say stop looking around and start looking at Me, 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” Rev. 3:20-21
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