Cataracts
Cataracts are an eye problem that is more common in older folk, but even younger people are presenting themselves with this malady. A ‘Cataract’ is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye thus giving you blurry vision and this can be described as though you are looking through a cloudy window. A skilled surgeon makes a small incision in the edge of the eye, and deftly pulls out the offending cloudy lens, and then carefully inserts a new clear artificial lens, then a couple of careful super fine sutures, and all is done, and it is generally safe to perform as an outpatient. Kiwi eye surgeon ‘Fred Hollows’ dedicated his life to restoring sight to the needlessly blind. He was determined to end avoidable blindness in poorer nations who are unable to be normally offered this surgical cure either by their Governments or Hospitals, Fred trained many to carry out this quick procedure, even making his own replacement affordably priced intraocular lenses, far cheaper than what was available on the open market. Fred then purchased the necessary manufacturing machinery and equipment, setting up these manufacturing centers, making them in his own factories in Nepal and Eritrea, and with these abundant supplies, who were daily producing many new intraocular lenses, countless of thousands around the world now have their sight back through a quick free treatment from the ‘Hollows Foundation NZ.’
A person with Cataracts, can fully understand this verse, 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” We all see God as if we all had bad cataracts, it is quite foggy, blurred, not sharply and clearly, but give us spiritual surgery by Jesus Christ, then we will in Eternity see him face to face, eyesight is perfectly clear 20-20 vision, we shall see him as he is, 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” As once was said, ‘There are none so blind as those who will not see,’ how so easy it is to get blinded, distracted, where spiritual cataracts grow and cloud over our vision, blinding us of our true condition, Matthew 15:14 “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Hosea 4:17 “Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.” Even Jesus struggled with those who should be seeing things so clearly, who are afflicted with spiritual cataracts, unwilling to admit that they need anything, and perishing in a ditch thus falling well short of the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Hosea 4:17 [Adapted] “Ephraim [is] joined to idols [his worldly cataracts have so blinded him so that he refuses to see his sin]: leave him alone.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:” Now ‘Cataracts’ make sharp and clear vision nearly impossible; to change concept, it is like trying to eat using chopsticks, but then you are wearing Boxing-Gloves, or trying to sew a button back on your shirt when you have plaster casts on your hands, basically impossible, the same applies when we endeavor to comprehend God, we get the big details, but the finer details are not seen as our vision and comprehension is way to small. Paul tries to understand more about God, but then writes this summation for us 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Cataracts, childlike faith, darkness, all make sharp detail impossible to view or to comprehend, but then we have this promise, 1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”Robert Bakke once wrote, things that will help us cry out, “I can see clearly now, my Cataracts are gone,” and I quote; “1/ Erase the chalkboard. Forgive, forget and get all the anger, bitterness and distrust that is [written] in your heart, out of your heart. Begin with a fresh heart that is ready to love. 2/ Now that your Heart is renewed, love God with all of it. Keep him First. Read your Bible out loud and pray to him first thing each morning. Then go the extra mile by turning your car into a “Rolling University.” Faith comes by hearing! [all those sermons and inspirational lectures] 3/ Be thankful to God for everything and give praise to God every chance you get! 4/ Take care of your body! Your body is God’s temple! 5/ Tithe! We cannot be stealing from God and expect him to answer our prayers! [this includes time, money, thoughts, emotions, everything is on loan from God so treasure it and offer it back to God who giveth all things abundantly] 6/ Follow the fire in your heartand put your gifts to use! Dare you to take your journey!! Remember always that every Word of God is true, and that faith without works is dead! So trust in the vision God shows you, and then show God you have the courage to perform! Unleash the life that God put inside of you, pray every step of the way and watch the manifestation of miracles begin to appear. This is what it means to pray at full throttle. Go for it! And you too will find yourself in victory lane. {End} Cataracts removed, spiritual sight restored, I’m seeing God clearly now, see his path clearly laid out before you, turn it, then hit full throttle. Go for it!
