Daily Journal: 28 October

Healthy Eyes

The way we see things all depends on our perception. Our perceptions trigger our responses. They form our thoughts and attitudes. But our perceptions aren't always accurate. What then?

Matthew 6:22-23 (TLB)

“If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul. But if your eye is clouded with evil thoughts and desires, you are in deep spiritual darkness. And oh, how deep that darkness can be!

This verse has slight variations in translation and, in reading the variations, we gain a clearer understanding of its meaning. Look at the description of the eyes.

(NASB) “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear [healthy, or sincere], your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

(NIV) “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy [generous], your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy [stingy], your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

(GNT) “The eyes are like a lamp for the body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eyes are no good, your body will be in darkness. So if the light in you is darkness, how terribly dark it will be!

(GWT) “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be!

(AMP) “The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!

Our eyes, our perceptions, our spiritual understanding, the formation of our thoughts and beliefs can either bring light to us or cloud our judgment. The central importance of our perceptions is key to the health of our thought-life, understanding, decision making, and even the health of our bodies.

The way we view circumstances. The generosity by which we interpret life. What we think other people are thinking. How we think we are being treated. What we counsel ourselves to do or act in response to a situation. All these things give light and health or darkness and death to all that we encounter. Truly, how great that darkness can be if we’re carrying dark thoughts.

Our overall health depends on what we choose to do with our perceptions and how we frame our beliefs, our encounters, ourselves and God.

If we feel there is a certain darkness within our frame of reference or our understandings, we need to take a look at the health of our eyes.