The Cross For Vision Correction

Many of us are visually impaired. While we are not exactly blind, we do not see things as they really are. Instead we see objects in a blurry haze. Some of
us, being nearsighted, have astigmatism, while others are farsighted. Whatever the case, in order to compensate for our lack of visual acuity, we squint, move closer or farther to the object or to the light. How frustrating it is not to see clearly. To
alleviate our misery, many of us go to professionals who will diagnose our impairment, and either prescribe corrective lenses or surgery. Even though we may not always see things as we want to see them, it is still great to really see--clearly.

Spiritually, we are all visually impaired. The principle and power of Sin has marred the way we see things. According to the apostle Paul, even at our very best, we "see through a glass, darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12). What are the shadows and mists
of Sin which prevent us from seeing clearly? Well, what veils our eyes is a preoccupation with self. We see ourselves, others and the world, by nature,
through our own interests, pleasures, desires and pains (selfishness) and are self-centered. So, we need corrective work to help us see things as they
truly are. The prescription, is the eye-salve of the cross.

The Cross helps us see God as He truly is. John 3:16, and 17 says, "For God so unconditionally loved the human race-- whoever lived or would ever live, that
He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever lived, if he or she believed in Him, would not die the second death, but have life everlasting. For God sent His Son into the midst of the human race, not to condemn its inhabitants, but that everyone through Him, might be saved." The scripture says that "God is Love" (1 John 4:8,16). And in 1 John 4:10 it says, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He
loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." In other words, whatever thoughts we have of God being unfair, of judging everything we do, and
waiting for us to fail -- all of these fade away when we see Him through the eye-salve of the cross. For through the cross of Christ, the Godhead displayed
their unconditional, self-denying love that would rather die the horrors of the second death than let us go.

The cross demonstrates to us and to the universe the nature of sinful human beings, and just what we are capable of. When we look at ourselves through the Cross, we see ourselves clearly. According to 2 Timothy--

2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:

This is the lifestyle that human beings lead who have not chosen Christ. However, the letter to Galatians, was written to "Carnal Christians" who had forgotten that the Law of the Spirit of Christ had set them free from the Law of Sin and Death (Romans 3:2), and they were trying in the flesh to keep the law of God. They were ignorant of the fact that the Law of the Flesh lusted against the Law of The Spirit. By the way, where there is carnality, there is enmity or hatred against the law and the giver of the law. Christ has said, he who keeps or cherishes hatred in his heart is a murderer. So, Paul in the Galatian letter appeals to the Galatian followers of Christ, telling them, "you've professed Christ, these things should not be found in you:

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

What did Paul say was the solution? For himself, he said that "I determined not to know anything ... save Jesus Christ, and Him CRUCIFIED" (1 Cor. 2:2). To the
Galatian Christians he said, we "that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts..." (Galatians 5:24). By being crucified with Christ, Paul says, we live in Him and walk in His spirit. Therefore we demonstrate the power of the
Holy Spirit in us and thus bear His fruit (see Galatians 5:22, 23).

You see, the Cross demonstrated to the watching universe and to us more than one thing. First, it demonstrated the ultimate goal of Sin -- to live eternally for
self, and Secondly it demonstrated the unconditional, self-denying love of Christ for
mankind. The only way for Satan-- the father of sin--to accomplish his goal, was to murder God. This, Satan attempted to do to Christ by seducing the Jews and the Romans to condemn Him to death on the Cross. Furthermore, He incited the mob to chant "crucify Him, crucify Him." And since Satan has more than one plan and method, he actively encouraged Christ to come down off the cross and save Himself. By doing this, the plan of salvation would have been dashed to pieces, the human race would have turned upon itself, and Satan would be the victor. The Cross of Christ
illuminated Satan's character as the hideous vector of evil that it was. It simultaneously demonstrated his venomous hatred and anger toward God. Of this Sister White says,

Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the
sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted. Whatever attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as they came from the heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christ's brethren of being clothed with the garments of blackness and the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken (E. G. White Notes p. 160).

As human beings, we really don't see clearly, because the miasma of sin clouds our vision. In order to see as He sees, we need the eye-salve which He has so willingly prescribed for us. Just as Moses, urged the people to look to the cross and live, so today Christ, the great ophthalmologist is urging us to do the same. According to the corrective measures He's prescribed, looking is the cure. Hey, let's apply the eye-salve today. Its worth clear vision, don't you think?

--
Raul Diaz & Maria Greaves-Barnes
rdiaz@wolfsoath.com
drsafadi@quixnet.net
http://www.wolfsoath.com

The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/