Spiritual Nearsightedness

Introduction

Nearsightedness, or “Myopia,” is a condition which affects around 30% of the US population.* People with nearsightedness can see objects that are close to them quite well, but struggle to make out objects that are far away. This can make it difficult for them to read a white-board in school or see the road beyond a few feet in front of their car. The cause of this condition is a lens which does not focus light properly on the retina in the back of the eye. This failure of the lens to focus light properly results in a distorted picture of the world—nearsighted people aren’t able to perceive the world as it truly is without corrective lenses. Without these corrective lenses, activities like driving can be dangerous because nearsighted people aren’t able to spot potential dangers that may lie ahead on the road.

In the same way, we all struggle with spiritual nearsightedness. Because of our distorted perspective, we see things that are near to us—earthly things—quite well, but eternity seems blurry. The things of this world come sharply into view, but eternity seems distant and undefined. The fact is, our distorted perspective presents a skewed picture of the world to our minds. And millions upon millions are hurtling down the road of life unaware that the bridge is out up ahead and they will plunge into eternity unprepared to meet their maker.

*https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/myopia

FCF: As sinful people, we are all born with spiritual nearsightedness—a tendency to focus on worldly, temporal things rather than the eternal things of the Kingdom of God.

Main Idea: But, Jesus’ words in Mark 8:34-38 act like corrective lenses, restoring our perspective so that eternal, spiritual things come sharply into focus.

Scripture Introduction: This instance in Mark chapter 8 is the first of three encounters between Jesus and his disciples where he has to correct their focus. We’ll begin reading in verse 31 to get the context, but we will mostly focus in on verses 33-38.

Mark 8:31–9:1 ESV

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Prayer for Illumination

How do we diagnose spiritual nearsightedness within ourselves?

One of the symptoms of spiritual nearsightedness is desires which run contrary to the Kingdom of God

We have to “deny” ourselves in order to be able to say “yes” to Christ

Sin has corrupted our natural desires so that indulging our self-interests usually runs counter to the Kingdom of God

“Self” and the “Kingdom of God” are fundamentally opposed to one another

Another symptom of spiritual nearsightedness is a confusion of earthly kingdoms with the Kingdom of God.

Jesus’ three predictions of his death and resurrection in Mark are followed by misunderstandings from his disciples.

Mark 8:31-9:1

Peter confesses “You are the Christ.”

Jesus foretells his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection

Jesus rebukes Peter and explains the true nature of his Messianic role

Mark 9:30–41 ESV

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” 38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Jesus foretells his death and resurrection

The disciples don’t understand

Jesus corrects their misunderstandings about greatness in his Kingdom

Mark 10:33–45 ESV

33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus foretells his death and resurrection

James and John ask for earthly glory in Jesus’ Kingdom

Jesus corrects their misunderstandings about greatness in his Kingdom

The disciples expected Jesus to declare himself king of Israel (and the descendant of David), take up arms, overthrow the Romans, and make them all high-ranking officials in his new Kingdom.

Like Peter, we often see the Kingdom of God as a means to earthly power and prestige

We conflate the Kingdom of God with the Kingdoms of Man.

We pursue spiritual changes in the halls of Congress instead of on our knees interceding for our neighbors.

We think that bullets, bombs, and infantry are the best solution for Muslims, when we ought to be befriending them, praying for them, and sharing the gospel with them.

True Kingdom of God influence on our society doesn’t come through banning abortions in the legislature, but through ministries like Options Pregnancy Centers, Christian families adopting unwanted children, and befriending and serving that single mother down the street.

Spiritual nearsightedness obscures the war between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdoms of Satan.

What does the Kingdom of Satan really look like?

Our spiritual nearsightedness makes it such that we don’t see Satan’s Kingdom clearly. It’s not black iron gates with foreboding demon statues on either side with crows and buzzards circling overhead.

In fact, when Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world during his temptation, he’s essentially offering a trade! Look how Satan’s kingdoms are described:

Matthew 4:8 ESV

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

The Kingdom of Satan is described in terms of glory—it looks like riches, wealth, and extravagance. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of every worldly pleasure imaginable. Mansions, fast cars, nice clothes, money, power, respect, admiration—in a word, “success.”

When we live for ourselves, we are serving the Kingdom of Satan.

Because it’s so cleverly disguised, we don’t see it for what it is. The temptation to accumulate possessions, money, power—what many have called “the American dream”—is one of Satan’s most effective means of keeping us distracted from the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 13:22 ESV

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

2 Corinthians 2:3–4 ESV

3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

What does a life lived without spiritual nearsightedness--that is, with 20/20 spiritual vision--look like?

People with nearsightedness often comment when they first get glasses or contacts on how different the world looks. “That’s what leaves look like!” they say, because they never saw the leaves before. If we’ve lived for a while with spiritual nearsightedness, it’s hard to imagine what life without that myopia looks like. Mark shows us a picture through Jesus’ words.

People with spiritual 20/20 vision are not attached to this world.

Mark 8:35–37 ESV

35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

They don’t mourn the loss of their stuff—they hold loosely to their possessions

They use their time and resources to pursue Kingdom things, not to accumulate possessions, wealth, and prestige

They value human souls above all worldly things

They are willing to give up anything for a closer walk with God

They zealously seek to save others

Illustration: What does a life of spiritual 20/20 vision and detachment from the world look like? It looks like David Brainerd:

The Life and Diary of David Brainerd Part II

Tuesday, April 6. I walked out this morning to the same place where I was last night, and felt as I did then; but was somewhat relieved by reading some passages in my diary, and seemed to feel as if I might pray to the great God again with freedom; but was suddenly struck with a damp [depressed, dejected], from the sense I had of my own vileness. Then I cried to God to cleanse me from my exceeding filthiness, to give me repentance and pardon. I then began to find it sweet to pray; and could think of undergoing the greatest sufferings, in the cause of Christ, with pleasure; and found myself willing, if God should so order it, to suffer banishment from my native land, among the heathen, that I might do something for their salvation, in distresses and deaths of any kind. Then God gave me to wrestle earnestly for others, for the kingdom of Christ in the world, and for dear Christian friends. I felt weaned from the world, and from my own reputation amongst men, willing to be despised, and to be a gazing-stock for the world to behold. It is impossible for me to express how I then felt: I had not much joy, but some sense of the majesty of God, which made me as it were tremble. I saw myself mean and vile, which made me more willing that God should do what he would with me; it was all infinitely reasonable.

The day before his 24th birthday, this is what he wrote in his diary:

The Life and Diary of David Brainerd Part II

Monday, April 19. I set apart this day for fasting, and prayer to God for his grace; especially to prepare me for the work of the ministry, to give me divine aid and direction in my preparations for that great work, and in his own time to send me into his harvest. Accordingly, in the morning I endeavored to plead for the divine presence for the day, and not without some life. In the forenoon, I felt the power of intercession for precious, immortal souls; for the advancement of the kingdom of my dear Lord and Savior in the word; and withal, a most sweet resignation, and even consolation and joy in the thoughts of suffering hardships, distresses, and even death itself, in the promotion of it; and had special enlargement in pleading for the enlightening and conversion of the poor heathen. In the afternoon, God was with me of a truth. O it was blessed company indeed! God enabled me so to agonize in prayer, that I was quite wet with perspiration, though in the shade, and the cool wind. My soul was drawn out very much for the world; for multitudes of souls. I think I had more enlargement for sinners, than for the children of God; though I felt as if I could spend my life in cries for both. I enjoyed great sweetness in communion with my dear Savior. I think I never in my life felt such an entire weanedness from this world, and so much resigned to God in every thing. O that I may always live to and upon my blessed God! Amen, Amen.

What a life! What do you think would happen if even half of us had half as much passion and love for God as this young man!

People with spiritual 20/20 vision are not ashamed of Christ.

Jesus’ words about not being ashamed of him in this life aren’t about passing along the latest meme on Facebook. I wish it were that easy! No, not being ashamed of Christ in this life means being willing to suffer for him and sacrifice the comforts and pleasures of this life in exchange for the glories of the one to come.

Not being ashamed of Christ means being willing to share the gospel with those whom you know think it foolish.

People with spiritual 20/20 vision have an eternal mindset.

It’s not that they enjoy suffering for suffering’s sake—but they have such a deep conviction in the superiority of the rewards in the life to come that they count such sufferings as a small price to pay for the joys to come.

Romans 8:12–17 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

They trade a temporary life for an eternal life

They trade fleeting possessions for an abiding one

They trade the fickle admiration of people for the commendation of God

They trade circumstantial happiness for a deep, enduring joy

And they rely upon the strength which the Spirit provides to do all of this.

Conclusion

It’s easy to get distracted by the things of this life. You don’t have to try at all—it’s our natural, default setting as sinners. Living with a Kingdom focus requires a dependence upon the Spirit and constantly reminding ourselves of the promises of Christ and the grace which he provides.

Living with a Kingdom focus isn’t easy. But it is possible if we focus on Christ and his Kingdom.