“But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, NLT)
2 Peter 1 teaches that there are very important aspects of the Christian life that need to be present for the person to grow in Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-7 lists some of these as faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Each of these spiritual things require time to hone and develop, experience in dealing with their challenges, and obedience to Christ. When your spiritual life lacks these aspects, your spiritual growth will be stunted. Your relationship with Christ will lack substance. You will not feel close to God.
After listing these aspects so important to the Christian life, Peter warns in our scripture reading for today that “those who fail to develop in this way are short-sighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins” (2 Peter 1:9). Essentially, Peter believed that people who were short-sighted lacked the commitment and obedience and gratitude to practice the critical aspects of the faith required for lasting spiritual growth.
As I pondered the meaning of these verses, I happened upon a comment from John MacArthur in Strength for Today. While delving into the aspects of the Christian life found here in 2 Peter, MacArthur reminded his readers that “Nearsightedness (myopia) causes people’s eyes to focus the parallel rays of light in front of the retina. They can clearly see things right in front of them, but the farther out they look, the more out of focus objects become. Professed believers who are unfruitful become spiritually nearsighted. They focus on temporal fads and passing earthly fashions. By the time they try to look ahead to eternity, it is so out of focus for them that they can’t see it.” In the end, these spiritually nearsighted people fail to see anything that isn’t obvious or easy. They haven’t developed a deep faith but only a shallow, superficial connection with God.
MacArthur ended his look into 2 Peter 1 with these words: “Regarding 1 Peter 1:5–9, it all comes down to this: if you are seeing your life grow in moral virtue, you have proof of salvation and a reason for assurance. If you are not seeing your life grow in virtue, you have no proof of salvation and no reason for assurance. Be diligent to avoid spiritual myopia … in your life.” (July 29th meditation).
Carrie was a lifelong Christian. She grew up as the youngest child of a pastor and his wife. Being the youngest, she was surrounded by parents and siblings who looked out for her welfare and were constantly encouraging her. But Carrie had a type of spiritual near-sightedness. She didn’t like reading the Bible. She thought the prayer life was boring. She didn’t enjoy the mission work engaged by her youth group. When the youth group visited older people in a nursing home, she would turn up her nose at the smell of the place and display a desire to leave as soon as possible. When the youth group helped with landscaping and maintenance at a battered women’s shelter, Carrie complained about the hard work and working conditions.
I got to watch Carrie grow into adulthood. After seeing her aversions to Bible Study, mission work, labor for the Lord, and other aspects of the Christian faith, I thought maybe she just had not found her place yet in God’s Kingdom. I was wrong. The older she grew, the more short-sighted she became. When she got married, her attendance at worship slacked off. When blessed with two children, she told me that she had little time for spiritual things. She didn’t complain about it. She just recognized it. It made me think she didn’t really love God all that much.
When Carrie’s daughter became seriously ill, Carrie called on her church to pray for the young child. Carrie came to a few Women’s Group meetings, all the while looking forlorn and suffering. She enrolled her two girls in Sunday School. Carrie enjoyed the visits of church members and the company of caring people who would drop off food for the family and help out while Carrie spent hours at the hospital. At this time, I thought Carrie would find her place in God’s Kingdom. Again, I was wrong.
As soon as Carrie’s daughter’s health returned, Carrie was again absent from church. She no longer attended the Women’s Group meetings. She had no time for Sunday School. Her girls only darkened the door of the church around Christmas. It was then that I realized that Carrie’s faith was superficial. Her view of God was short-sighted and myopic. Carrie didn’t have the inclination to delve into the deeper aspects of a relationship with Christ.
Be careful that you don’t become one of the many short-sighted myopic believers in Christ. The book of Revelation did not have good things to say about such lukewarm believers. In Revelation 3:15-16, John of Patmos wrote: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15–16, NLT). God was not happy with these believers with a shallow faith. They were even considered by God to be worse than non-believers!
It is all too easy to let your faith life become comfortable or short-sighted. All it takes is some laziness, a lack of commitment and obedience, and a desire to take the easy way out all the time. Jesus wasn’t looking for disciples who were short-sighted and lackluster. He sought out followers who were committed, obedient, steadfast, loving, and more. Sadly, some people just don’t love Jesus that much, even some people in the pews on a Sunday morning. Please don’t let your faith be lulled into a pattern of ineffective short-sightedness!
After listing these aspects so important to the Christian life, Peter warns in our scripture reading for today that “those who fail to develop in this way are short-sighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins” (2 Peter 1:9). Essentially, Peter believed that people who were short-sighted lacked the commitment and obedience and gratitude to practice the critical aspects of the faith required for lasting spiritual growth.
As I pondered the meaning of these verses, I happened upon a comment from John MacArthur in Strength for Today. While delving into the aspects of the Christian life found here in 2 Peter, MacArthur reminded his readers that “Nearsightedness (myopia) causes people’s eyes to focus the parallel rays of light in front of the retina. They can clearly see things right in front of them, but the farther out they look, the more out of focus objects become. Professed believers who are unfruitful become spiritually nearsighted. They focus on temporal fads and passing earthly fashions. By the time they try to look ahead to eternity, it is so out of focus for them that they can’t see it.” In the end, these spiritually nearsighted people fail to see anything that isn’t obvious or easy. They haven’t developed a deep faith but only a shallow, superficial connection with God.
MacArthur ended his look into 2 Peter 1 with these words: “Regarding 1 Peter 1:5–9, it all comes down to this: if you are seeing your life grow in moral virtue, you have proof of salvation and a reason for assurance. If you are not seeing your life grow in virtue, you have no proof of salvation and no reason for assurance. Be diligent to avoid spiritual myopia … in your life.” (July 29th meditation).
Carrie was a lifelong Christian. She grew up as the youngest child of a pastor and his wife. Being the youngest, she was surrounded by parents and siblings who looked out for her welfare and were constantly encouraging her. But Carrie had a type of spiritual near-sightedness. She didn’t like reading the Bible. She thought the prayer life was boring. She didn’t enjoy the mission work engaged by her youth group. When the youth group visited older people in a nursing home, she would turn up her nose at the smell of the place and display a desire to leave as soon as possible. When the youth group helped with landscaping and maintenance at a battered women’s shelter, Carrie complained about the hard work and working conditions.
I got to watch Carrie grow into adulthood. After seeing her aversions to Bible Study, mission work, labor for the Lord, and other aspects of the Christian faith, I thought maybe she just had not found her place yet in God’s Kingdom. I was wrong. The older she grew, the more short-sighted she became. When she got married, her attendance at worship slacked off. When blessed with two children, she told me that she had little time for spiritual things. She didn’t complain about it. She just recognized it. It made me think she didn’t really love God all that much.
When Carrie’s daughter became seriously ill, Carrie called on her church to pray for the young child. Carrie came to a few Women’s Group meetings, all the while looking forlorn and suffering. She enrolled her two girls in Sunday School. Carrie enjoyed the visits of church members and the company of caring people who would drop off food for the family and help out while Carrie spent hours at the hospital. At this time, I thought Carrie would find her place in God’s Kingdom. Again, I was wrong.
As soon as Carrie’s daughter’s health returned, Carrie was again absent from church. She no longer attended the Women’s Group meetings. She had no time for Sunday School. Her girls only darkened the door of the church around Christmas. It was then that I realized that Carrie’s faith was superficial. Her view of God was short-sighted and myopic. Carrie didn’t have the inclination to delve into the deeper aspects of a relationship with Christ.
Be careful that you don’t become one of the many short-sighted myopic believers in Christ. The book of Revelation did not have good things to say about such lukewarm believers. In Revelation 3:15-16, John of Patmos wrote: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15–16, NLT). God was not happy with these believers with a shallow faith. They were even considered by God to be worse than non-believers!
It is all too easy to let your faith life become comfortable or short-sighted. All it takes is some laziness, a lack of commitment and obedience, and a desire to take the easy way out all the time. Jesus wasn’t looking for disciples who were short-sighted and lackluster. He sought out followers who were committed, obedient, steadfast, loving, and more. Sadly, some people just don’t love Jesus that much, even some people in the pews on a Sunday morning. Please don’t let your faith be lulled into a pattern of ineffective short-sightedness!
The video for today is a fiery sermon that tells the truth..... Click below to have a listen!