How's Your Eyesight?

1st Samuel 18:5-9, “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.  And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.”

As we just read, Saul had his eye on David because of envy. Saul was the first king of Israel. David was a mighty warrior, which he had learned protecting his sheep as a boy. David once fought off a bear, and at another time a hungry lion, who tried to eat some lambs from his flock. God gave David the victory in battle against the Philistines. When the Jewish women praised David above Saul, the king became enraged with envy. But David was a lowly shepherd at heart, who had his eyes on God. Psalms 141:8, “But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.”

There is a very important Biblical truth to be learned here. Who are you looking at dear reader? How's your eyesight? If you've got your eyes focused on man, look out! People will hurt you, disappoint you, and let you down. That includes family and spouses. If you're looking at the Lord, He will never let you down. Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” God has given us His solemn promise as believers that He will NEVER leave nor forsake us. 

The Bible gives us several dozen examples of how people got into trouble when they “saw” something. ...

EVE - Eve sinned because she SAW that the forbidden fruit looked pleasing to the eyes. She was looking where she shouldn't have been looking. Genesis 3:6, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

LOT - Lot was materialistic, when he BEHELD the well watered plains of Sodom, and ended up moving there. Lot's life, and that of his entire family, was wrecked and ruin because he LOOKED at the wrong things. When he should have been looking to the Lord, Lot was looking at Sodom. Genesis 13:10, “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” Please read Genesis 13:12, “Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Lot pitched the opening of his tent toward Sodom, because his heart was already there! Just one chapter later, to the verse, Lot lived in Sodom! Genesis 14:12, “And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.” Lot looked with covetousness at the well watered plains of Sodom. Next Lot chose to live there, pitching his tent toward the wicked city of Sodom. And finally, Lot moved into Sodom! 

LOT'S WIFE - The Bible says that Lot's wife turned into a literal pillar of salt, because she LOOKED back on Sodom's destruction, after the Angel of the Lord had forbidden them to do so. Genesis 19:26, “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

I could give you many more examples from the Bible; such as, when that king David “saw” Bath-Sheba bathing naked from his palace rooftop. David was supposed to be fighting on the battlefield, but he chose to stay home in Jerusalem, not where he was supposed to be. When we are not where we are supposed to be, we often see things that we ought not see! Consequently, David did some things that he shouldn't have done, and his sins quickly turned into evil (hurting other people). David's sin of committing adultery with Bath-Sheba compelled him to do evil by murdering her husband, Uriah. Evil always comes from sin! 

I have watched about one hundred episodes of the “Forensic Files” TV series. There are 406 episodes total. I paid attention to what small things (common sins) led to uncommon horrendous crimes. In nearly every case where people did unthinkably evil things to hurt other people (murder, rape, dismembering their bodies, stealing, torture), there was a slow process of wicked thinking. There was a long-time pattern of alcohol and drug abuse, going to strip clubs, disrespect for the law, no fear of God and worldliness! Nobody just goes out and commits adultery, bank robbery or murder! Long before that time there was a weakening of that person's moral character—the result of WRONG THINKING! Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

How do you see things? In Matthew chapter 9 we find Jesus talking with Matthew, a tax-collector. Matthew 9:9-11, “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” Notice that both Jesus and the Pharisees “saw” Matthew, but they saw different things—The Pharisees saw a BAD SINNER, but Jesus saw a SICK MAN who need a PHYSICIAN! Matthew 9:12, “But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” What do you see when you look at sinful people? Do you see bad people? Or do you see sinners for whom Jesus Christ died, who through the power of the Gospel can be saved, and transformed by the Word of God into servants of the most high God? 

We find another example in the Bible in Matthew 14:28-31, “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” When Peter “saw” the wind blowing he was afraid, and began to sink into the Sea of Galilee. Peter's big mistake was not looking at the boisterous wind, but taking his eyes of Jesus in the first place. 

Where are you looking dear reader? Are you looking at man? Are you eyeing someone with envy, resentment or hatred? I maintain a spirit of love toward everyone, because I keep my eyes stayed on God. Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Saul eyed David, but David looked to the Lord. Saul's life ended up ruined and destroyed, committing suicide; but David's life ended up very successful, blessed in the Lord, despite David's sins, failures and mistakes made along life's journey. The lesson I hope for you to learn dear reader, is to keep your eyes on God. Psalms 141:8, “But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.” 

In these perilous times, more and more I am running to the Word of God like a starving man! The power of God resides in the written promises of God in the Scripture! What a precious Savior!!!