Jen’s Gem: Fix your eyes on God to achieve your vision.

For more than a year, I’ve been experiencing a few changes in my vision. Driving at night has been challenging at best. Even daytime was a bit tricky. My depth perception was off and my eyes didn’t seem to “snap back” when I’d look to my left or right. A few eye tests revealed the onset of cataracts.

Cataracts. Boy, if anything is going to make you feel older than dirt, it’s that word. I have always pictured this common vision ailment impacting people in their 80s or 90s. While there are days when my body may feel this age, it’s a long way off.

The young whippersnapper doctor suggested correcting the touch of astigmatism with a new contact lens. Voila! The crystal clear vision I once enjoyed returned. It was nothing short of a miracle and I praised God for the medical science that enabled this to be.

While my night vision is still a little touchy, I think it’s mostly due to the poorly painted lines on the road and people’s obsession with driving with their bright lights on. At least the fear of driving after sundown has eased a bit. It sounds corny, but it felt like a whole new world opened up to me.

Vision issues have been in the air.

A week ago today, we experienced a blizzard. Blinding driving conditions abounded.

My daughter ran out of her contact lenses the other day.

Yesterday, a friend of mine texted and told me she had a dream about me having trouble putting in my contacts and that my eyes were brown instead of blue.

My son literally got up on the wrong side of the bed, stumbled, and scuffed up his arm.

What’s going on?? Is everyone’s vision compromised? Why are we not seeing clearly? Are we missing something? Inquiring minds want to know!

Interestingly, one of my clients is preparing to celebrate seven years in business. I have been writing several pieces recently about the vision he had when he launched his company. It is amazing to see all that has been accomplished. He had a vision, wrote it down, and now he’s seeing it come to fruition.

“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV)

The Bible is very clear about writing down our vision, our plans for our lives. We’ve all heard the popular phrase, “goals that are not written down are just dreams or wishes.” I suspect each of us had a vision for 2020. My guess is that no one or very few achieved it.

We are well into 2021 but perhaps you’ve refrained from contemplating this year’s vision. Too many unknowns? Too many obstacles? It’s hard to see clearly past the day in front of us as we all have had our hopes dashed for a return to normal. It’s too risky to look beyond this week, let alone a whole year!

However, when we create a vision based on external circumstances, is it really a vision? Perhaps a short-term vision, but certainly not one that endures. What would’ve happened if Thomas Edison didn’t imagine a world filled with light? What would’ve happened if Alexander Graham-Bell didn’t have a vision for the telephone?

Neither of these men based their visions on what they saw in front of them, but rather what was unseen.  

“…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV)

When we look at the circumstances around us, it can be difficult to dream of something bigger and better. The world seems to be caving in around us – squashing our hopes and dreams for a bright future. Yet, we are told in the Bible not to fix our gaze on what’s in front of us, but rather to look upon what is eternal. Our eyes need to be laser-focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

I believe all of us are being convicted to get our eyes checked. Not our physical eyes, but the eyes of our hearts. Where are they? If they’re looking at what’s around us, well, I don’t have to tell you what they’re seeing. But if they are focused on God, on all He has done and promises to do for those who believe, then anything is possible.

Is it time to schedule your own eye exam? A slight adjustment can open up a whole new world.