SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
By Elder Bobby Willis, Published Glad Tidings, 8/2023
“Having eyes, see ye not?” Mark 8:18
Have you ever noticed how some people will not believe what you may tell them no matter the amount of proof you have? They just do not want to believe God’s children are saved by grace and not by their own works.
In Mark 8:7-8 you will find a rendering of where Jesus fed the multitude with seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes and had seven baskets of leftovers. After entering a ship with his disciples, they came to Dalmanutha where they were met by a group of Pharisees who “began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.” The Pharisees prided themselves in knowing everything that went on. Surely they knew of the miracles which Jesus had performed of healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, walking on water, calming storms, and now feeding multitudes with a meager amount of food, multiplied by the power of God. In addition, Jesus had preached the gospel, and preached it clearly. And yet these Pharisees wanted a sign from heaven. Like the saying of old, they were 'as blind as a bat’.
If the Lord has not opened the heart of understanding of an individual, they are spoken of in the scriptures as being blind. Jesus told the disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15). Even the disciples, who were already regenerated and were now in a state of conversion, were blind to the truths of enlightenment which Jesus was teaching. They saw His miracles and heard His words, but even though they had been born again, they weren’t using their spiritual remembrance prompting Jesus to say, “Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?” (Mark 8:18). They remembered there were twelve baskets left when he fed the five thousand plus, and also remembered the seven baskets of leftovers after the feeding of the four thousand. Jesus went on to say, “How is it that ye do not understand?” (Mark 8:21).
There are three times in the life of a child of God when they are, or can be, in a blind condition. 1. Prior to regeneration (being born again) 2. Prior to conversion (changing of our walk) 3. During periods of Self-Righteousness, Pride, or Ignorance (willful neglect of being a good disciple of Christ - Judicial Blindness). Those who do not belong to God (the non-elect) remain in a state of blindness and will never understand the things of God because their hearts are hardened, having only a carnal nature. God’s children take on a spiritual nature when they are born again of the Spirit and then are in a condition of being able to see the truths of God. When they are converted, they can see to walk in the narrow way, changing from following worldly pleasures to walking (seeking) to praise, honor, and glorify God.
Now, the third time a child of God can be in blindness is when we willfully turn away from God (backslide) and lose our close spiritual relationship with the Saviour. This sorrowful condition we can find ourselves in can be caused by a feeling of our own self righteousness or our failing to draw nigh unto Him which brings about ignorance on our part. A failure to study God’s word is utmost in bringing about this condition.
