A Different Set of EyesSample

DAY FOUR: Walk To Freedom

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  Psalms 119:105 (ESV)

I just returned from my annual eye examination.  My complaint to him deals with needing more light to see.  The doctor said that it is a normal challenge with aging eyes.  What is the answer?  Get better light to read by.  Pretty easy to figure that one out.  Duh?  Is it so easy with our perspective of life and in walking where God wants us to walk?  In the scripture above, we read that there are two distinct examples of places in our “walk” that God sheds His light on.  It is the same light, but it falls on two different places.  So let’s talk about it.

First we must understand that it is God’s word that illuminates us.  God’s word is the light, and Jesus is also the Light.  He said that He is “the light of the world.”  This means that we get understanding and wisdom from the knowledge we gain from God’s written word, and from our intimate relationship with the Incarnate Word, who is Jesus.  However, mere knowledge without personal life application doesn’t bring wisdom and understanding.  We gain those things when we understand how God’s word applies to our life in our present circumstances and where our life is headed.  This is where God’s “light” focused on the right place in our life gives us the wisdom that we need for our walk with Him.

The scripture above mentions a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  What is the difference?  The lamp illuminates our feet and shows us when we are on the path, or the present condition of our life.  It is a tighter focus.  This evaluation tells us a lot.  Another way to state this is how God’s word helps us examine our self.  Is our present condition living in conformity with God’s guidance and precepts?  Are we obedient to Him?  Do we have an intimate, abiding relationship with Him?  We do not compare ourselves with other people.  That would not answer the biggest question.  The biggest question is simply, “How is our soul … how is our walk with Jesus?”

The other target of God’s light is how it illuminates our path and gives us understanding as to where we are headed in life.  God’s precepts teach us both God’s view of disobedience and the consequence that will follow.  If we read God’s word, and we believe that it is true, then we can expect a negative outcome from ignoring God’s warnings such as how adultery can lead to divorce or how pornography can lead to an addiction.  If we trust God and His promises, then we can expect a blessing to be waiting for us on the path we travel, such as a fulfilling marriage that results from Christ being at the center of our marriage.  These are only two examples, but there are many other applications.  This is what a light to our path reveals.  It is to be assured that God will bless us if we are on the right path, and warn us if we are headed in the wrong direction.  It keeps us from naïve ignorance.

I love Psalms 119.  I find it interesting that the first 44 verses of this lengthy passage promote the priority of God’s word in our life, and the priority that our effort should be with seeking God’s wisdom from it.  After those things are clearly expressed in the first 44 verses, we then see in verse 45 the benefit that comes from God’s word being a light to our path.  Read it:

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”  Psalms (119:45 NIV)

We see freedom.  We see that God gives us sanctified common sense to help us live with Him in freedom and wisdom.  What a great benefit to be able to live life like that.  This is what God’s light directs us to.

I believe that there are things that conflict with Biblical principles seducing many Christians today and they do not see them coming.  This is happening within churches, businesses, education, government, and even to pastors.  They have a general idea about the rights and wrongs of things, but they do not realize the erosive effects our culture and its message has on their soul.  They think that the stuff coming at them is not getting in and they are holding it at arms length.  They think it cannot draw them into its grasp.  It is the other guy that has the problem.  However, many times they see that this is not true, for the problem is now theirs.  Thank God they have a light and lamp from God if they will use it to help them see how close they are to a fall, and how to avoid it.  If they allow God’s lamp and light to shine on their feet and their path, they will see that they are only one step away from self-destruction.  It can be stopped.  But the truth is, many do not value how God’s word can shed light on their life and they become another victim of a scheme from the enemy of their soul.  They just didn’t see it coming until it was too late.

God’s word will instruct us how to live in freedom and from being victimized by our enemy.  It is courageous to walk in the freedom that God is forming.  He has a shield of protection that guards us as we walk on the path God desires for us.  If we are to have a new set of eyes that will help us spot the dangers in the road ahead, and there are many…we must be well instructed from the wisdom we gain from God’s word.  This is where we get a new set of eyes.  This is where we learn to see with the eyes of our heart.