Blind to God

7/17/1986

We have a serious problem on our hands, and in fact blindness comes on as we are darkened in our understanding. In 2 Cor. 4:3 it says, “If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” Paul said the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, and yet it is the power of God to those who are being saved. If you feel like all the things you have heard so far are foolishness, and you are thinking, “this is heavy stuff that I don't need”—Beware because God said that the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. If you have a mathematical mind at all, you can see that if you feel like it's foolishness, then you are perishing—and if you feel like it's the power of God, then you are being saved. That's the clear distinction.

The gospel is veiled (2 Cor. 4) to those who are perishing. They can't quite see through it. Sure, I can be moral. I can do my good deed and I can be religious, but I can't quite see through what we are talking about right now. Remember that the good news is veiled to those who are perishing. Why? Because the god of this age has blinded the mind of unbelievers. A believer is not just somebody who acknowledges it as being true. The god of this age (satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ezekiel 14:3 says that when we take something of this world (an idol) and put it in front of our face, then we become blind to God. If you are living in that right now with your job, your marriage, your children, your parents, your “church” or anything else…if you've taken something as an idol and protected that from the purity of God and have set that in front of your eyes, then you will never see the Glory of God. The god of this age, satan, will take that thing and hold it in front of your face—making you blind to God. If I hold my hand in front of my face, then I can't see you. That's just what God said. Satan, the god of this age, has blinded the minds of those who refuse to believe—those who refuse to come into the light. He blinds them so they can't see the glory of God and the face of Jesus Christ. They can't see it. It’s foolishness to those who are perishing; it’s veiled to those who are perishing.

If you can identify that as your situation, then you have a choice to make. Will I come into the light and lay down my armor and my sword? Will I come into the light, or will I keep up all my defenses? If you are willing to come into the light, there is something God can do about it for you—but not until then. Not as long as your defenses are up and you are fighting for the “right” to have your idol(s). We have to realize that when our minds are blinded we have this nasty tendency to flatter ourselves. We know Jesus said that the road to destruction is broad and that many people will go down that path. Jesus said the road to eternal life is very narrow and few will be those who find it. We know He said that. But, somehow no one really thinks that they are included in that broad path that leads to destruction—do they? 86% of Americans say they are a “born again” Christian. Jesus said they are liars. It can't be. Jesus said the road is very narrow.

Many people will say to Him, “You've taught in our streets. We dined with you. We shared the Lord's Supper with you. We did many miraculous deeds in Your name. We cast out demons.” And Jesus will say, “Depart from me. I never knew you. I never had intimacy with you.” That's all in the context of Matthew 7 where He talked about the road being narrow. He was talking to religious people when He wrote that. He was not talking to people that have no idea what anything's about. Certainly that's true for them, too. The point is that everyone flatters themselves. Everyone says, “Well, that doesn't include me.” And, we base that on something we did once upon a time. Or, we base it on something we are doing now…“Well, see, I can't be down the road to destruction because, after all, here's what I do.” Or, (here's the really key one)…“Well, here's what I am going to do. I know I'm not doing it yet, but I'm going to do it. One day, I'm gonna do it, and that will save me.” So, we all flatter ourselves because the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who are perishing. We all flatter ourselves into thinking that we’re going to be okay and that we are not included in that broad road to destruction. Agreed? Anybody reading this think that they are going to perish?

That's the nature of it—that satan has humanity by the nose. The father of lies, the accuser of the brethren, the author of hatred and bitterness, the one who has destroyed homes, lives, health, and peace…is dragging us around through the dirt. This evil one has ripped through creation and left us with a situation where one out of ten 13-year-olds are already involved in sexual immorality. Those are our children. What's it going to be like by the time our 6 year olds are 13? It's spiraling downward very quickly. Satan has all of humanity by the nose and is leading humanity off into destruction. The only thing that is hindering him from taking our lives and pulling them down into hell right this minute (which we deserve, by the way) is the restraining hand of God. God is showing His mercy on us—allowing us to live, giving us a chance. God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance…wanting us to clean up the act and move ahead with God. Not to play games with Him; not word games; not things to justify ourselves by doing God a favor, somehow. But, in purity and honesty come before the throne of God and lay it all out. Come into the light.