Eyes. What extraordinary marvels of creation!
As early as the third week of a baby's development, the brain begins crafting the intricate mechanisms of the eyes. These eyes, so delicately connected to the brain by the optic nerve, composed of over a million intricate nerve fibers, are akin to a network like fiber optic cables. Once severed, this network cannot be restored.
Contemplating the complexity of the eye leaves me in awe. I am thinking about the eye today because of an eye issue I awoke with on Monday. I won’t bore you with details, but I will say, to those who doubt the existence of a Creator, I simply point to the eye.
I’m sorry, but such perfection did not happen haphazardly! It is a result of intentional design. Intentional design by a very intentional Designer.
Take a moment to look at some amazing facts about the eye:
The eyes, second only to the brain, are your most intricate organs.
Comprising over 2 million working parts, your eyes function tirelessly. With an average of 12 blinks per minute, totaling around 10,000 blinks daily, your eyes never cease their protective motion.
Processing a staggering 36,000 bits of information every hour, your eyes are ceaseless observers. Though only 1/6th is visible, your eye is a powerhouse of perception.
The external eye muscles are the human body's mightiest for their task.
Remarkably, the eye can function optimally without rest, day or night. (Although I never want to test this fact.)
85% of our total knowledge is attributed to our eyes' contribution.
Unlike our ever-growing nose and ears, our eyes maintain the same size from birth.
The eye operates much like a sophisticated camera, capturing and processing light into meaningful images. And so much more and Jesus did that! Jesus, Creator of everything, gave us the GIFT of sight. Can I get an amen!
I want to back up to the claim that 85% of our total knowledge is attributed to our eyes. The Bible tells us that by beholding (aka: witnessing; watching; viewing) we become.
2 Corinthians 3:18 reads: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." ESV
In other words, as we look at how awesome God is, we start to become more like Him. This change happens little by little, and it is God's Spirit who makes it possible.
The same can be said if we do not look at Jesus. We “become like” by watching and listening. That is why it is so very imperative that we fix our gaze on Jesus rather than the distractions of the world or those around us.
I knew someone who, while driving, if he took his eyes off the road for even a second or two, the car would start to veer in that direction. That is called “reflexive response”, and it is actually quite common. It's a good reminder of how important it is to stay attentive while behind the wheel!
In my early teens we used to go bowling. I even received by own personalized ball and a purple (my favorite color) bowling ball bag. After each game, we would head to Pizza Hut—cherished memories!
But in bowling, success hinges on fixing your gaze solely on the pins. Not the lane, not your gear, not the bystanders, but the precise spot where you want the ball to land.
Matthew 6:22-23 paints the eye as the body's lamp. A clear eye fills the body with light; a corrupted eye shrouds it in darkness. If our eye lights the way so to speak, we better make sure our gaze is fixed in the right direction.
Are you familiar with horse racing? Racing horses often wear blinders or blinkers, which are small cups or flaps attached to their bridles that limit their field of vision. This serves a few purposes:
Focus: By limiting what the horse can see, it helps them stay focused on the track ahead and prevents distractions from the surroundings, like other horses or the crowd, which might cause them to become anxious or lose focus.
Reduce Spooking: Horses can get spooked easily by sudden movements or unfamiliar objects. Blindfolding them partially helps reduce the chances of spooking, keeping them calmer and more focused on the race.
Encourage Forward Motion: By limiting their side vision, blinders encourage the horse to look straight ahead, promoting forward motion and preventing them from swerving or being easily startled by things happening on their sides.
Friend, as we being a brand new year, full of hope and possibilities, make sure your blinders are on!
Let your prayer for 2024 be the same prayer King David once wrote: “ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” Psalm 119: 36-37 ESV
Just as blinders prevent horses from distractions, we need blinders that will keep our eyes fixed solely on Christ. He shields us from the chaos around us. He shows the way; He lights the way.
Look to the man Jesus, the Son of God, as your friend, and your Savior.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 ESV
by Jeanette Stark – Tuesday, January 2, 2024
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