Thought for Christmas 2014
"Let there be light" by Barry Adair
(Born into darkness)
I want to take you to India this month. And in particular to a small rural village in West Bengal to meet two young girls, Anita (5) and Sonia (12). The two girls get on famously well and have a special bond. They were both born into darkness, their blindness due to congenital cataracts.
It is estimated that in India alone there are 12 million blind people of the 39 million blind people in the world. So why write about 2 out of 12 million or even out of 39 million? Simply because I read about the girls recently in Time Magazine. I was struck with a couple of things as I read their simple story and wanted to share them here.
Life wasn't easy for the Singh family. With two young blind daughters, it was even harder to make ends meet compared to the other families in the region. Poverty is all too common in India. Families often rely on their offspring to help with putting food on the table. Whereas we in the West who are so materially blessed, just seem to complain so much! From a brief reading of our daily papers or a look at Facebook or Twitter, often all you read about is people's disaffection with what they have in life.
Going back to the Singh girls. Removal of cataracts is a straightforward procedure nowadays but at around $300 per operation it was much too expensive for the Singh family to afford. In reality then, it was poverty that was the real cause of their blindness! Remaining in darkness appeared to be the only option open to the girls. But there is a happy ending. Thanks to a US charity called WonderWork, both cataract operations were carried out and both girls can now see!
I thought back to when those girls were born. Both girls came into the world blind. Spiritually speaking, this happens to all of us. The Bible is clear that we are all born blind to the things of God and are sinners by nature. The Singh girls only ever knew blindness. No wonder they had to undergo rehabilitation sessions after the operation just to adapt to this new and exciting sense. What a gift to receive. And what a blessing that the cost was paid!
Our spiritual blindness can be ended also. We too can truly "see" what life is all about. And for more good news, just like in the girls' case, the cost has been paid in full. Jesus died on a cruel cross to pay for our sin, all of our sin. If we accept what He did for us, then we are fully reconciled to our Heavenly Father. Then we can see anew…
- Our priorities are different
- Our principles are changed
- Our purpose is made clear
- Our praise is correctly focused
- Our protection is eternally safe
Jesus made the blind to see and He still does today!
…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor. 4:4
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous; Psalm 146:8
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see. (John Newton)
Happy Christmas to all from 'the Grove' and may the glorious light of the gospel of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ fill your life today.
(All Bible quotations are from the NASB)
Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!