by Robert Fudge

A few years ago I was in Hindman, KY preaching for a small church one weekend. While there I was told of a man who lived in the nearby town of Hazard. He was a fixture in that town. His mind had not developed with his body, so he was about 8 years old mentally and in his 40’s physically. One night as he rode his bicycle through town he witnessed a crime being committed. He was called to court to testify. The defense attorney asked him about it being fairly dark and the distance he was from the crime scene. He then asked if he was sure it was the defendant that he saw and he said yes. So he asked him “how far can you see when it is dark?” He responded, “well, I don’t really know how far it is but I can see the moon.” How far can we see?

Peter has something to say about this in 2 Peter 1:5-9: 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Without going into a discussion of each of these virtues, just notice that God wants these qualities in our lives and He wants them to be ever increasing. It is these that make us productive for the Lord. When we don’t have them we are blind, spiritually blinded by the world. To have these qualities we must ever keep our eyes on Jesus, on heaven, on spiritual values. We must focus on the eternal that cannot be seen with the physical eye but is readily seen with the spiritual eye of faith.

We must always keep in mind that we have been cleansed from our sins by the blood of Jesus. This one fact will change everything about how we live. It will change how we feel about ourselves. It will change how we feel (and treat) others around us. It is in God’s forgiveness of my sin that I truly see His love manifested for me. It is in this forgiveness that I can have peace of mind. Notice how Paul put it in Philippians 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Dear God, our heavenly Father, we are so thankful that you are near. We give you thanks for your Son Jesus who died for our sin. May we ever keep our eyes focused on Him and see that which cannot be seen. May we ever be mindful for your forgiveness through His blood. Fill our hearts with your love and forgiveness toward others. Thank you for your joy in our lives. Help each of us to have the peace that only you can give as we know your presence. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus our Lord.

May God bless each of us today as we live for Him.