In all the years I've been listening to sermons and writing devotions and putting together talks about the gospels, I can't remember hearing or reading a talk about this message from Christ. I recall reading the scripture and studying it of course, but for some reason I've not heard it teached or preached about. It's been kind of preached around. You know, the verses surrounding it. Like not having two masters, or not storing up your treasures on earth. And plenty of sermons on fasting and prayer, but on your spiritual health? Especially the health of the churchy people?
And it's so meaningful in so many ways. It's the truth that Jesus came to give testimony to. And it's a mirror for each of us to look into. A mirror we like to avoid.
Matthew 6:22-23 Jesus said...
“Your eye (spiritual awareness and conscience) is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy (clearly understanding the gospel, and loving God and one another), your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy (clouded by pride, unbelief, hypocrisy and wealth), your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have (religious rituals, superstition, and a covetous conscience) is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!" (It's doubly dark)
(Amplification mine)
The simple truth of it is this, Jesus demands that his disciples give their full allegiance and devotion to God, above all else. If they hope to have his light, they must have his Spirit. That light you know is the Holy Spirit? If the light is in you, the Spirit is in you. In the light, the material world offers no security. In the light, one's quality is determined by the content of their character and their devotion to Christ. In the dark, the love of money is deception, and worry is just as spiritually destructive as greed. In the dark religiosity mingled with worldly-mindedness is a cloak for covetousness and a dark corruption hidden within.
The eye sees, it's a guide. The eye is intent, it's our aims. It's what we're shooting for. It represents our understanding. It's what we got in mind. A blind eye only knows darkness. Those who cannot see are walking in darkness. Walking in the light is like what the apostle Paul said, "To me to live is Christ."
To walk in darkness is to look aside. To look around at the favor of the people, and to desire that favor. Making one's religion serve one's secular interests. Like rowing a boat one way while looking in the other direction. Forgetting all the while where the tides will take you. For we can be sure of one thing, a blind pilot will be lost at sea. It's a constant friction between people with corrupted minds having been robbed of the truth (1 Timothy 6:5). In the darkness the truth will always be lost. It's doubly dark there after all.