Ken Lovelace Ministries


F a i t h M a t t e r s with Dr. Ken Lovelace Emphasis: Nearsightedness *Spiritual Amnesia* Take note of what Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:5-9: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." Peter was a gifted writer and had uncommon insight into our spiritual condition. We see here our need, indeed God's command, not to be "ineffective and unproductive." We counter our own ineffectiveness and unproductiveness by incorporating into our lives the list of character qualities with which Peter began this passage. But what if we find that these qualities are missing? Inattention to them has staggering results. Notice what Peter wrote in verse 10: "But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." A nearsighted person sees well only those things close to him or her. Figuratively, he or she is self-centered, seeing only that which is close to him or her and affects his or her world. But not only do they focus well and only on that which is in their world, they also fail to focus on that which is the world of others. The consequences of their spiritual negligence are detrimental to their effectiveness. "Blind" is the second effect Peter lists. Though we can't be sure he intended a direct link between "ineffective" and "nearsighted;" and "unproductive" and "blind," that seems to be the intent. Think about the link between the later. Without these qualities present in ever-increasing measure, a spiritual blindness also results, rendering us "unproductive." Why? We are unproductive in that we're not growing spiritually, we're not deepening our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and perhaps most importantly, we're unable to see with our spiritual eyes. If a person is spiritually blind, that person cannot perceive spiritual needs and, therefore, can't meet them. One who is spiritually blind doesn't see God at work around him or her and is, therefore, incapable to joining Him in what He's doing. Additionally, neither can he or she see what the enemy is up to. During the Civil War, General JEB Stuart was the Confederate cavalry commander. He served as a subordinate to the Confederacy leader, Robert E. Lee. Each time Stuart wrote a letter to Lee he would close with these words, "Yours to count on, JEB Stuart." Although Stuart generally upheld these words, he failed his leader when Lee needed him most at Gettysburg. Emory Thomas, a professor of history at the University of Georgia, writes in his book, Robert E. Lee: A Biography, "At Gettysburg, Stuart rode off into nowhere and left Lee blind in the presence of his enemies."1 Being left blind in the presence of our enemies is serious business. Even more serious is the spiritual blindness about which Peter talks. Spiritual nearsightedness and blindness are horrible attributes for the believer. What would cause us to cease growing in Christ and to slide so low? Peter went on to tell us: "...and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." To have disregarded the sacrifice of God in Christ Jesus to the point that we have forgotten that our past sins have been washed away is indeed injurious to our relationship with Christ and ruinous to our Christian growth. Peter discusses a very weighty matter in a way that is indicative of a personal knowledge of such people. Do we know people like this? Does this describe us? Would others say we are nearsighted and blind? Would God? Join me in asking the Lord to reveal to you whether or not you are living like you've forgotten that He has cleansed you from your past sins. If His answer is "Yes," ask Him what you should do next; if His answer is "No," pray for those who are. ____________ 1"Searching for Eagles," John Maxwell, Injoy, Jan. 1995; Houston Chronicle, July 9, 1995, p. 29 Copyright © 2008. Faith Matters by Dr. Ken Lovelace. All rights reserved. KDT081507_081108

F a i t h M a t t e r s
with Dr. Ken Lovelace
Emphasis: Nearsightedness

Spiritual Amnesia

Take note of what Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:5-9: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

Peter was a gifted writer and had uncommon insight into our spiritual condition. We see here our need, indeed God's command, not to be "ineffective and unproductive." We counter our own ineffectiveness and unproductiveness by incorporating into our lives the list of character qualities with which Peter began this passage. But what if we find that these qualities are missing? Inattention to them has staggering results.

Notice what Peter wrote in verse 10: "But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." A nearsighted person sees well only those things close to him or her. Figuratively, he or she is self-centered, seeing only that which is close to him or her and affects his or her world. But not only do they focus well and only on that which is in their world, they also fail to focus on that which is the world of others. The consequences of their spiritual negligence are detrimental to their effectiveness.

"Blind" is the second effect Peter lists. Though we can't be sure he intended a direct link between "ineffective" and "nearsighted;" and "unproductive" and "blind," that seems to be the intent. Think about the link between the later.

Without these qualities present in ever-increasing measure, a spiritual blindness also results, rendering us "unproductive." Why? We are unproductive in that we're not growing spiritually, we're not deepening our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and perhaps most importantly, we're unable to see with our spiritual eyes. If a person is spiritually blind, that person cannot perceive spiritual needs and, therefore, can't meet them. One who is spiritually blind doesn't see God at work around him or her and is, therefore, incapable to joining Him in what He's doing. Additionally, neither can he or she see what the enemy is up to.

During the Civil War, General JEB Stuart was the Confederate cavalry commander. He served as a subordinate to the Confederacy leader, Robert E. Lee. Each time Stuart wrote a letter to Lee he would close with these words, "Yours to count on, JEB Stuart." Although Stuart generally upheld these words, he failed his leader when Lee needed him most at Gettysburg. Emory Thomas, a professor of history at the University of Georgia, writes in his book, Robert E. Lee: A Biography, "At Gettysburg, Stuart rode off into nowhere and left Lee blind in the presence of his enemies."1 Being left blind in the presence of our enemies is serious business. Even more serious is the spiritual blindness about which Peter talks.

Spiritual nearsightedness and blindness are horrible attributes for the believer. What would cause us to cease growing in Christ and to slide so low? Peter went on to tell us: "...and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

To have disregarded the sacrifice of God in Christ Jesus to the point that we have forgotten that our past sins have been washed away is indeed injurious to our relationship with Christ and ruinous to our Christian growth. Peter discusses a very weighty matter in a way that is indicative of a personal knowledge of such people.

Do we know people like this? Does this describe us? Would others say we are nearsighted and blind? Would God?

Join me in asking the Lord to reveal to you whether or not you are living like you've forgotten that He has cleansed you from your past sins. If His answer is "Yes," ask Him what you should do next; if His answer is "No," pray for those who are.

____________
1"Searching for Eagles," John Maxwell, Injoy, Jan. 1995; Houston Chronicle, July 9, 1995, p. 29

Copyright © 2008. Faith Matters by Dr. Ken Lovelace. All rights reserved.

KDT081507_081108