SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1331

“Blinded Minds”

In whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that there does not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God – 2 Corinthians 4:4 (LSV)

Our reference Scripture speaks of the blinded minds of the unbelieving. However, I believe that this Word has application to Christian believers today as well.

I am currently in the process of cataract surgery. Cataracts have clouded, blurred, and dimmed my vision. In a similar fashion, the god of this age also works to cloud, blur, and dim the minds and hearts of believers with ‘spiritual cataracts’ of distraction, idolatry, sin, doubt, and religiosity.

Blinded by Distraction – The distractions of this world dull our senses and interfere with our relationship with Jesus. Mindless activities waste the precious gift of time that we have been given. ‘I can’t find time to pray’ some say, yet they spend hours interrupted by and mindlessly scrolling social media.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

Blinded by Idolatry – Idolatry blinds us with a myopic view of our life purpose. We seek the short-term gratification of the lusts of our flesh and lose sight of our eternal destiny.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. – 1 John 2:15-16

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, …For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also; You shall have no other gods before me. -Matthew 6:19-21; Exodus 20:3-5

Blinded by Sin – The selfish ‘pursuit of happiness’ through the material and fleshly pleasures of this world hardens our hearts and blind us to the consequences of our sin. Our consciences become calloused and not open and tender to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. – Hebrews 3:13

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. – Romans 8:6-7

Blinded by Doubt – The world teaches that our Creator does not exist and therefore, the world system enacts laws to remove all references to God and His Word from society. The theory of evolution is embraced and taught as factual truth seeking to supplant the Truth of the Word of God. The world system seeks to cast doubt in our hearts concerning the Truth of the Word of God.

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness; The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned – 1 Corinthians 3:19, 2:14

We must remain in the Word: reading, studying, and praying the Word so that it will take root in our hearts and minds. Otherwise, we become easy prey to the atheistic intellect of the world for the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy our faith.

Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. – Luke 24:38; Matthew 13:19

Blinded by Religion – Many people are blinded and deceived into a false sense of eternal security through membership in a church denomination and following its rituals ‘as best they can’. They lack a personal, born-again relationship with Jesus and seek salvation through their good works and religious practice.

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 15:8-9, 7:21

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – John 3:3; Ephesians 2:8-9

May the Lord replace hardened and calloused hearts with hearts of flesh, tender toward the conviction and direction of His Holy Spirit.

May the Lord give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that diligently seek Him in faith and Truth.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints – Ephesians 1:17-18