Have you ever prayed, “Jesus open my eyes?” I believe all of us are blind in different ways in a spiritual sense if we are honest with ourselves. You may be familiar with the hymn Amazing Grace, which is about a man coming to faith. “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.” [1]
When John Newton wrote the hymn in 1779, he was one of the most respected preachers in England, but he hadn’t always been a believer. As a young man, he served aboard a sailing ship and was known for his wild behavior and mocking the Christian faith. He seemed as far away from God as possible until the Lord intervened in his life through a great storm. During the storm, Newton cried out to God and repented of his sin. The light of Jesus shown on a life filled with darkness.
Does Jesus Open Blind Eyes Today?
Being spiritually blind is nothing new, and as Jesus hung on the cross, many people were spiritually blind to who He was. Luke 23:35 The crowd watched, and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” [2]
Does God still open spiritually blind eyes today? Yes, He does! Never underestimate the power of God’s Word. A friend went to an Easter worship service only to satisfy his wife. He was not a believer and had no intention of becoming one. But like John Newton, God had other ideas. By the end of the worship service, God had opened his eyes, and he asked Jesus into his heart.
The God of Intervention
The people who mocked Jesus had hardened hearts, but God did not give up on them. The Roman officer in charge of the crucifixion came to a fantastic conclusion. He met Jesus, and his eyes opened to the Light of Christ. Matthew 27:54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” [3]
Someone in your life may seem far from God, and the Lord wants to use you to reach them. Romans 10:14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” [4]
Pray “Jesus open my eyes” to move from darkness into His light. To find out more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/light-in-the-last-hour
[1] https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/313
[2-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.