Spiritual Blindness

What happens to us when we hold onto bitterness? Do our hearts become hardened? Perhaps when we hold onto bitterness in our hearts, it creates a kind of spiritual blindness that keeps us from truly seeing. I am reminded of the story of Saul in the book of Acts.

Saul’s Story

We first learn of Saul in Acts chapter 7. Paul, then known as Saul, was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) from Tarsus, born into a Jewish family and raised among the Pharisees, a strict Jewish sect devoted to rigid adherence to the Mosaic Law. Saul is first introduced to us in Scripture as a witness to the stoning of the disciple Stephen. While Scripture does not describe him as actively throwing stones, he stood approvingly by, guarding the garments of those who carried out the execution. Saul showed no mercy or grace toward Stephen. In fact, he left with a determination to pursue and persecute Christians.

The story continues in Acts, chapter 9. While traveling on the road to Damascus, Saul was blinded by a vision of Jesus and heard Him speak to him. He was instructed to go into the city and seek out a man named Ananias, a disciple, who, ironically, was one of the very Christians he had come to arrest. Likewise, Ananias was also given a vision by Jesus to receive Saul when he came. Ananias and the other Jesus followers in Damascus had already heard of Saul’s reputation and were understandably afraid.

A Heart that Sees

Despite his fear, Ananias obeyed the Lord. He laid healing hands upon Saul and called him Brother Saul. Ananias explained that Jesus had sent him to Saul in order that Saul would regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately after these words were spoken, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. In an instant, Saul was healed of his blindness, both the physical blindness of his eyes and the spiritual blindness of his heart.

Saul, later known as Paul, went on to plant churches and preach the Gospel throughout the ancient world. His story reminds us that when we are spiritually blind to the truth of God’s Word, Christ continues to pursue us in love, working to remove the scales from our eyes.

What are we to do to overcome spiritual blindness?

When we hear His voice, we must take care to listen. As it says in Hebrews 3:7-8, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness.’” Have faith! Jesus tells the blind beggar in Luke 18:42, “your faith has made you well.”

Through the truth of His Word, we are given the opportunity to repent, receive forgiveness, and allow bitterness to be replaced with love, allowing us to come out of the darkness and truly see.

In Christ's love,

Tracey