Step forward in boldness, not blindness

“Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue. (John 9:30-34)

It is a rather long story, but I will shorten it a bit for us today. A man born blind just 'happened' to be sitting by the roadside as Jesus came by one day. Jesus made mud with a little spit and some dirt, rubbed it on his eyes, told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, and he came back with his total sight restored. He tells the Pharisees and religious leaders, but they are aghast that anyone would do such a thing on the Sabbath. They send for his parents, even though he was a grown man, asking if he was really born blind. There is no doubt he was blind, but now has totally restored eyesight. The miracle was lost on the religious leaders, for all they could see was that the healing was done on a Sabbath day - a day when no work of any kind was to be performed. Aye! What a silly lot we are at times! We get so focused on the stuff that doesn't really matter and miss the 'huge' thing God is doing right in front of us. 

The most amazing part of this story is this man's response to the 'learned leaders' of the day. His response is a challenge to their unbelief - something I wonder if he would have ever tried to do if he wasn't first touched by Jesus. If he were not from God - - - that statement probably ruffled more than one feather. All the leaders can see is that the man is 'unlearned' and a 'sinner', so he is incapable of teaching them anything. It is a sad, sad day when a life touched by God is judged by one's past and not seen for the magnificence it has once filled with grace and love. When we discount the work of God in a person's life, no matter how 'crude' or 'unlearned' that person may be, we are dismissing the power of God's grace. To dismiss grace is a very dangerous thing, indeed!

It warms my heart to know that God can take the 'rawest' of a life and use it for his glory. We don't need to be well-educated, or even super-talented to be used to bring truth and light into this world. We just need to be willing to step forward in boldness to declare the work he has done within us. To some, the work he has begun within doesn't seem to be 'complete', so they fear their message won't matter. This man had his eyesight for a mere matter of minutes before he began to boldly challenge the beliefs of those who were supposed to be the most 'learned' amongst the people. Not with haughty intent or prideful anger, but with sympathy for their lack of vision. One who now had vision challenged those who should have had the most vision. Amazing how God works, huh? Just sayin!