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Impaired Vision

When I was a child, I had to wear glasses. Interestingly, my vision improved, and from high school until age 40 I didn’t need them. Prior to that landmark age, my vision was better than 20/20. Now, because of the natural degeneration of the eyes, I wear bifocals. Without glasses, my vision is impaired.

About our “spiritual vision” the apostle Paul said, “Now we see in a
mirror, dimly, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). The word dimly (enigma in Greek) implies that our current spiritual perceptions in our earthly state are impaired, at best.

In the ancient world, they didn’t have the clear glass mirrors we have today. Instead, mirrors were made of polished metal and provided a reflection that was dim and distorted. What was seen in a mirror was only an imperfect representation of what would be clear if it could be seen directly.

If you have questions about what God is doing in your life, continue to trust Him and to seek clarity through prayer and His Word.

For now, our understanding is limited (1 Cor. 13:9). Our current spiritual vision is impaired, but in eternity we will see clearly. We will see Jesus “face to face.” — Dennis Fisher

Someday He’ll make it plain to me,
Someday when I His face shall see;
Someday from tears I shall be free,
For someday I shall understand. — Leech

We now see Jesus in the Bible, but then, face to face.