Restored Vision
Scripture Reading — Acts 9:10-19
“The Lord . . . has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.
When Ananias brought the Lord's message and Saul received the Holy Spirit, Saul "could see again"! The blindness he had experienced for three days was gone—and so was his spiritual blindness. Before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul had been sure he had perfect vision and all the answers about God. Saul had been a Pharisee, part of an elite group of Jewish legal experts who believed they had special status with God.
Some Christians go through life thinking they have all the answers. Some are convinced they know more than anybody else. When it comes to finding God, they think they have 20/20 vision and can answer all your questions. Of course, none of us has perfect vision, and no one has all the answers. Even Old Testament Job, who was "blameless and upright" according to the Bible, had to admit that there was much he did not understand. He confessed that he had limited vision, saying to the Lord, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you" (Job 42:5).
We too need to humble ourselves before the Lord and ask him to remove any "scales" from our eyes so that we can see him and serve him faithfully.
Lord God, give us humility and help us to see you clearly so that we can live fully for you. Forgive us for acting as if we know everything about things we don’t understand. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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