“... to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:18, ESV)
Written above is part of the calling of the Apostle Paul. Jesus asked Paul to “open the eyes” of those who are living in “darkness” (Acts 26:18a). These people living in darkness were under the “power of Satan”. They were lost. They were sinful. Only when their eyes are opened could these people ever see their true relationship to God and the power of evil that has captured them. Only when they “turn from darkness” through confession of sin and redemption in Christ can they ever hope to “find a place among those who are sanctified”, thus have a chance at eternal life in Heaven. Otherwise, sin will destroy them. Satan will corrupt them. Darkness will envelop them. And they will be doomed. Paul was called by Jesus to help save these people from a terrible future full of shame and regret and hopelessness, mired in sinful pursuits and lost causes.
If you read this scripture closely, you may see that the beginning of the process of salvation and redemption occurs when those who are in sin “open their eyes” to the reality of their spiritual condition. Unless they “open their eyes”, they are blind to all the evil games that Satan plays. Unless they “open their eyes”, they will be in darkness, not understanding their purpose in this world. Paul’s call was to “open the eyes” of people to see God’s plan of salvation. Everything else good that happened in the believer would come from their willingness to have their eyes opened, confess their sin, turn from darkness to light, and reject Satan. ONLY THEN, would their sins be forgiven and they be given a place in Heaven. God’s plan of salvation begins with “opening the eyes” of those in sin and ends with their receiving forgiveness and sanctification through Jesus Christ.
Nothing good will happen unless people have their eyes opened to God’s plan of salvation. There can be no forgiveness of sin. There can be no redemption. There will be no salvation. There will be no Heaven.
A man drank half of bottle of whiskey while lying in bed. He was not an alcoholic. He was getting drunk from the swarm of regrets that had consumed his every waking thought. Darrell got married when his girlfriend became pregnant at twenty years of age. Darrell was only twenty-two. When his daughter came along, Darrell enjoyed her presence but was overwhelmed at the responsibilities of taking care of a newborn. Little Elizabeth was up every few hours wanting to be fed. Diapers had to be changed regularly. She had to be bathed and held. Sometimes, Elizabeth would cry for half an hour. The only way they could get her to fall asleep was to take her for a short ride in the car. Lacking sleep and overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and costs of a newborn, Darrell and his wife began to argue. They resented the situation. Darrell blamed his wife for the pregnancy. His wife called Darrell a lazy, stupid, worthless redneck. After a particularly bad argument, Darrell’s wife took the baby and stormed off to her mother’s house. That’s when Darrell grabbed the whiskey and drowned himself in his sorrow.
Awakening ever so slowly from the haze of drunkenness, Darrell heard a man shouting at him to “Get up now!”. With the room spinning from the onset of a hangover, Darrell barely realized that the room was filled with smoke. The man yelling at him to get up was a firefighter. Only then did Darrell realize that his house was on fire and his life was in danger.
A portable electric heater had overloaded an extension cord. This caused the fire. Darrell did not realize that the extension cord was getting hot. He did not realize that the electric cord was covered with a rug and could start a fire. The phone call from a neighbor to the local fire department and the rescue by the fireman saved Darrell from a fiery death that night.
Darrell may have been saved from smoke inhalation and death by fire that night, but his life was still in jeopardy. Darrell was not only blind to the inherent dangers of an overheated extension cord buried under a rug, he was also blind to a good number of other issues and problems in his life. Darrell had sex with his girlfriend and got her pregnant. He didn’t realize how the pregnancy would change his life. He did not understand how the stress of a newborn would damage his relationships and be such a heavy responsibility. At this point in his life, Darrell also didn’t realize how he would resort to drinking heavily whenever he got overwhelmed or upset. Rather than work things out, he would “check out” with alcohol. Darrell also was not a good example of a husband and father. He resented having to take care of his daughter, preferring instead to go out with his friends. He did not talk to God before becoming marrying his wife, who was herself immature and unreasonable. Darrell did not plan the pregnancy. When things didn’t go his way, he fussed and fumed and lashed out. Darrell was blind to so many aspects and consequences and issues in his life.
The fire changed a lot in Darrell. Darrell realized he could have died that night. His daughter could have grown up without a father. His wife would have been a single parent and overwhelmed herself.
You could say that the fire opened Darrell’s eyes to so much of his life that was wrong. Darrell proceeded to make some big changes. Recovering from smoke inhalation in the hospital, Darrell knelt by his bedside and gave his life to Jesus. He vowed to take responsibility for his actions and for his family. He promised God never to drink away his problems ever again. Three months later, Darrell and his wife joined a church. They enrolled little Elizabeth in Sunday School. They spent almost every Sunday worshipping God. They prayed together before every meal. Darrell and his wife prayed together often, went on dates to uplift one another, and became trusted friends. For the next few years, Darrell’s life was not easy. He had a lot of making up to do. However, Darrell did pretty well for himself. This year, Darrell is celebrating thirty years of marriage. His daughter is married and has kids of her own. At Christmas this past year, Darrell told his best friend that, “if God hadn’t opened my eyes in that fire, I would have messed up everything.”
Some people are going through life blind to so many things. There are many souls living from day to day without realizing they need God. Some Christians are living in spiritual darkness, unable to confess a sin that is holding them back from forgiveness. Some people have had their eyes opened to what needs to be done but they refuse to turn things around, face facts, or seek answers from God. There are lost souls blindly grasping for worldly thrills. People are living paycheck to paycheck without realizing the social and political maneuvering that has damaged their ability to earn a living. Computer users mindlessly spend hours on TikTok seeking laughs that only satisfy for a few moments. Like sheep, people are being led astray. They are blind to the wolves that keep them from seeing the truth and recognizing their need for salvation in Jesus Christ.
That’s why you and I are called, like Paul, to open the eyes of others. You may do it by sharing the gospel. You may be an example. You might be the firefighter who gives someone a chance to live. You might be the friend who listens and offers godly advice. You might be the parent who brings up a child to pray and seek God. You might be the friend who forgives. You might be the only person who loves a person like God would have it. You may be the husband or wife who is truly “faithful” in every aspect of that word.
Is there some darkness that has blinded you? Have your eyes been opened by God? Are you willing to confess your sins and be forgiven? Will Heaven be in your future? All good questions… needing an answer only you can give.
If you read this scripture closely, you may see that the beginning of the process of salvation and redemption occurs when those who are in sin “open their eyes” to the reality of their spiritual condition. Unless they “open their eyes”, they are blind to all the evil games that Satan plays. Unless they “open their eyes”, they will be in darkness, not understanding their purpose in this world. Paul’s call was to “open the eyes” of people to see God’s plan of salvation. Everything else good that happened in the believer would come from their willingness to have their eyes opened, confess their sin, turn from darkness to light, and reject Satan. ONLY THEN, would their sins be forgiven and they be given a place in Heaven. God’s plan of salvation begins with “opening the eyes” of those in sin and ends with their receiving forgiveness and sanctification through Jesus Christ.
Nothing good will happen unless people have their eyes opened to God’s plan of salvation. There can be no forgiveness of sin. There can be no redemption. There will be no salvation. There will be no Heaven.
A man drank half of bottle of whiskey while lying in bed. He was not an alcoholic. He was getting drunk from the swarm of regrets that had consumed his every waking thought. Darrell got married when his girlfriend became pregnant at twenty years of age. Darrell was only twenty-two. When his daughter came along, Darrell enjoyed her presence but was overwhelmed at the responsibilities of taking care of a newborn. Little Elizabeth was up every few hours wanting to be fed. Diapers had to be changed regularly. She had to be bathed and held. Sometimes, Elizabeth would cry for half an hour. The only way they could get her to fall asleep was to take her for a short ride in the car. Lacking sleep and overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and costs of a newborn, Darrell and his wife began to argue. They resented the situation. Darrell blamed his wife for the pregnancy. His wife called Darrell a lazy, stupid, worthless redneck. After a particularly bad argument, Darrell’s wife took the baby and stormed off to her mother’s house. That’s when Darrell grabbed the whiskey and drowned himself in his sorrow.
Awakening ever so slowly from the haze of drunkenness, Darrell heard a man shouting at him to “Get up now!”. With the room spinning from the onset of a hangover, Darrell barely realized that the room was filled with smoke. The man yelling at him to get up was a firefighter. Only then did Darrell realize that his house was on fire and his life was in danger.
A portable electric heater had overloaded an extension cord. This caused the fire. Darrell did not realize that the extension cord was getting hot. He did not realize that the electric cord was covered with a rug and could start a fire. The phone call from a neighbor to the local fire department and the rescue by the fireman saved Darrell from a fiery death that night.
Darrell may have been saved from smoke inhalation and death by fire that night, but his life was still in jeopardy. Darrell was not only blind to the inherent dangers of an overheated extension cord buried under a rug, he was also blind to a good number of other issues and problems in his life. Darrell had sex with his girlfriend and got her pregnant. He didn’t realize how the pregnancy would change his life. He did not understand how the stress of a newborn would damage his relationships and be such a heavy responsibility. At this point in his life, Darrell also didn’t realize how he would resort to drinking heavily whenever he got overwhelmed or upset. Rather than work things out, he would “check out” with alcohol. Darrell also was not a good example of a husband and father. He resented having to take care of his daughter, preferring instead to go out with his friends. He did not talk to God before becoming marrying his wife, who was herself immature and unreasonable. Darrell did not plan the pregnancy. When things didn’t go his way, he fussed and fumed and lashed out. Darrell was blind to so many aspects and consequences and issues in his life.
The fire changed a lot in Darrell. Darrell realized he could have died that night. His daughter could have grown up without a father. His wife would have been a single parent and overwhelmed herself.
You could say that the fire opened Darrell’s eyes to so much of his life that was wrong. Darrell proceeded to make some big changes. Recovering from smoke inhalation in the hospital, Darrell knelt by his bedside and gave his life to Jesus. He vowed to take responsibility for his actions and for his family. He promised God never to drink away his problems ever again. Three months later, Darrell and his wife joined a church. They enrolled little Elizabeth in Sunday School. They spent almost every Sunday worshipping God. They prayed together before every meal. Darrell and his wife prayed together often, went on dates to uplift one another, and became trusted friends. For the next few years, Darrell’s life was not easy. He had a lot of making up to do. However, Darrell did pretty well for himself. This year, Darrell is celebrating thirty years of marriage. His daughter is married and has kids of her own. At Christmas this past year, Darrell told his best friend that, “if God hadn’t opened my eyes in that fire, I would have messed up everything.”
Some people are going through life blind to so many things. There are many souls living from day to day without realizing they need God. Some Christians are living in spiritual darkness, unable to confess a sin that is holding them back from forgiveness. Some people have had their eyes opened to what needs to be done but they refuse to turn things around, face facts, or seek answers from God. There are lost souls blindly grasping for worldly thrills. People are living paycheck to paycheck without realizing the social and political maneuvering that has damaged their ability to earn a living. Computer users mindlessly spend hours on TikTok seeking laughs that only satisfy for a few moments. Like sheep, people are being led astray. They are blind to the wolves that keep them from seeing the truth and recognizing their need for salvation in Jesus Christ.
That’s why you and I are called, like Paul, to open the eyes of others. You may do it by sharing the gospel. You may be an example. You might be the firefighter who gives someone a chance to live. You might be the friend who listens and offers godly advice. You might be the parent who brings up a child to pray and seek God. You might be the friend who forgives. You might be the only person who loves a person like God would have it. You may be the husband or wife who is truly “faithful” in every aspect of that word.
Is there some darkness that has blinded you? Have your eyes been opened by God? Are you willing to confess your sins and be forgiven? Will Heaven be in your future? All good questions… needing an answer only you can give.