Blinded eyes/darkened understanding
2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Blinded eyes:
Blindness is a difficult handicap but not one that should keep those affected by it locked in their homes or away from society. However, it does impose certain limitations upon those affected by it. Spiritual blindness is worse than physical blindness because the person affected does not know that they are blind. There are multitudes of people walking around and engaged in the world that are spiritually blinded by sin and the devil 2 Cor 4:3-4. They easily fall prey to the devil’s devices and schemes. When Paul was in Ephesus on a mission trip the people were easily lured into a riotous frenzy by Demetrius the silversmith. He stirred the people up by getting their focus on financial matters and the false goddess Diana. People that are spiritually blinded are easily led into false and often destruction behavior. Many today have been blinded by the false prophets of doom that are proclaiming miss information and outright lies. The withholding of true facts and information allows those who desire control of people to accomplish their objectives. The words of Jesus in Jn 8:32 are very relevant for us today. Jesus was speaking primarily about the truth concerning His sacrifice and the forgiveness of sin, but it applies to other areas as well.
Willingly blind and ignorant:
Peter speaks of those who willingly ignore proof concerning particularly creation, the flood and truths pertaining to it 2 Pet 3:5-7. Jesus also addressed the blindness of those who know the facts but ignore them Jn 9:39-41. There are many today who follow the wisdom of man and err from the truth of God and the Bible. Paul mentions those who have their understanding darkened because of blindness Eph 4:18 – here the word blind carries the idea of stupid, callous. They willingly refuse to accept the facts and truth of the gospel because of their prejudice or sin. Their understanding is obscured by the sinfulness of their minds. Understanding has to do with the deep thoughts also their imagination. God said that the people in Noah’s day were given over to darkened imaginations because the thoughts of their imaginations were only evil continually.
Evil influence:
When people resist the truth they are extremely vulnerable to evil influence. The devil is called the prince of the power of the air Eph 2:2. Power is the word for authority; the same Jesus used in Matt 28:19-20. Adam and Eve were to be the influencers for God and good but they relinquished that position to the devil and now he holds that position and influences those who resist the truth to accept sin and sinful practices as truth. The push today for sodomy and transgenderism is directly related to those who have rejected the truth and follow the influence of the devil. Once God’s word and way are compromised a door of vulnerability is opened in our society and church as well las individual lives for the spirit of the devil to substitute error for truth and bring about sin and confusion.
Salt and light:
Jesus said we are to be salt and light in this evil world and the proof of our standing is to be our good works and living Matt 5:13-16. The statement of being salt is receded by the fact that if we liv as we should we will be persecuted. Our conduct in light of it will be proof of our relationship to Christ. We are called to speak, live and display the truth and it is God’s position to bring light to the unbelieving and then they have the position to either accept or reject that truth.
