Vision Comes From WithinSample

Faith

“You will never see again.” How would you respond if you heard those five words spoken to you? I had to answer that question in 1993 at the young age of twelve. In less than 48 hours I went from perfect 20/20 vision to no vision at all. I had contracted an extremely serious sinus infection that not only threatened to take my sight, but almost took my life. The doctors took me into emergency surgery to do what they could to preserve my life. When I emerged from surgery, I was alive, but I would never see again.

“Being concerned for my emotional state, my parents wanted to talk with me about the situation. I turned to them and said, “I believe that I will see again, but if I don’t, I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with it.” How does someone have that kind of an attitude you might ask? One must have a strong faith that God is in control, and that God has a plan.

“We see this kind of faith demonstrated in the life of Joseph. In Genesis chapter 50 Joseph’s father Jacob has died, and his brothers are fearful that he will take his revenge on them (vv. 15-18). They send a messenger to Joseph saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father (GEN 50:16-17)” The brothers had wronged their brother, and they assumed that he would not forgive them.

“Joseph responds, however, by telling them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive (GEN 50:19-20). What an unbelievable attitude. Joseph had experienced multiple injustices that could all be related back to his brothers selling him into slavery. Yet, he did not want to seek revenge against them. Why? Because he understood that God had a plan for his life. He knew that God had allowed him to be sold into slavery in order that many lives would be saved.

“When we face trials and tribulations in our lives; when we want to give up and ask why God; we must remember that in every situation God is at work. He is guiding and directing events in ways that we may never know, to bring about circumstances that we may never understand. We, however, can be certain that God is working for our best interest, and to bring about maximum glory to Himself.