Spiritual Cataracts

Is your vision hazy? Are you trying to sense the direction of the Holy Spirit through a cloudy lens? Moral wisdom gives clarity.

“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.”

— Samuel Johnson (The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia)

With the advancement in science, technology, and medicine, we can more easily share and build on the knowledge and discoveries of others, giving us the misconception that we are more intelligent than people were even 100 years ago. By the Collins English Dictionary, intelligence is “the ability to think, reason, and understand instead of doing things automatically or by instinct.”

Intelligence is not about what you know; it is proven in what you do with the information. We know the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), but we live in a society that has a dangerous discernment deficit.

Only faith in the Source of all goodness causes us to receive power and insight through His Holy Spirit. Without trust, discernment, and wisdom, we will develop cataracts in the eyes of our hearts. We will be like the Pharisees -- blind to what is right in front of us.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not having the understanding to rightly interpret the Scriptures and how they pertain to the times and the culture.

“Jesus also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud forming in the west, you immediately say, “It’s going to rain.” And indeed it does. And when a south wind blows, you say, “A heat wave is coming.” And it does. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret conditions on earth and in the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret the present time? And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” (Luke 12:54-56, CEB)

The religious leaders could not understand what – Who was right in front of them. Their insight was cloudy with their legalism. Oh, they had the policies straight, but their hearts were diseased and blind. They attempted to gain favor with God and impress others with their rule-following, but the absence of grace and compassion made them incomplete.

Intelligence is not about what you know; it is proven in what you do with the information.

Is your vision hazy? Are you trying to sense the direction of the Holy Spirit through a cloudy lens? Moral wisdom gives clarity. You see clearly the things of the Lord when there is no selfish desire, ulterior motives, unforgiveness, and sin obscuring your vision, hindering your purpose, or distracting you with pointless pursuits.

Moral wisdom gives clarity.

Knowing God is the only way to know His plan. Are you close to Him? Are you trusting Him to speak through His Spirit to yours? Can you perceive the things of God and understand His Word? The usual path to success does not apply to you. The world’s way to live joyously will not work in your life. So forget all that.

If you desire the scales to fall from your eyes, ask God to reveal Himself. When the Lord opens your eyes, you will understand the things of God.

Heavenly Father,

I need wisdom that only your Spirit can give me. Help me to not lean on my own opinions, — or what my society or friends have to say. I need godly — not earthly — wisdom, Lord. Please supply me in knowledge and truth. Father, open my eyes to the barriers holding me back from spiritual progress and help me to walk confidently as I discern the next steps I need to take in my life.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.