By Pastor Tommy Rush, First Baptist Church

I recently had an appointment with my eye doctor, Dr. Randy Keator at Family Eye Care. Dr. Keator has been taking care of eyes in Natchitoches for over 40 years. My recent visit was a bit different with all the safety guidelines and protocols in place due to the coronavirus. I was grateful for the way Dr. Keator and the staff went the extra mile to make the visit clean and safe. It was also interesting to see some of the new equipment they’ve started using since my last visit. The cameras and computers used to take images of my eyes were amazing to me.

I’m thankful that for the most part I’ve always had good eyesight. I do have the problem of being farsighted. Being farsighted means I can see what’s far from me better than I can see things up close. You may be farsighted too. A lot of people become more farsighted the older they get. You can tell if you find yourself extending your arm when trying to read your mail or a newspaper. Another way you can tell is when you have to ask your wife or the waiter to read the menu to you out loud. A phrase you say a lot when you are farsighted is “Has anyone seen my glasses?” I have about four pair of eyeglasses but they are always difficult to keep up with.

Being farsighted physically is a problem, but being farsighted spiritually is a much bigger problem. It’s never a good thing to see the flaws in people who are at a distance from me, but fail to see my own. It’s never good to focus on the weaknesses and shortcomings of others but never see your own. It is so easy to be guilty of spiritual farsightedness. Honestly I think there is a great deal of people in the world today struggling with the malady. I admit that I too find it pretty easy to see all the flaws and failures of people in the world but have a hard time focusing on the flaws and failures of the guy I see in the mirror every morning.

In Matthew 7, Jesus called attention to this problem, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” He went on to say, “Don’t be a hypocrite, first remove the plank from your own eye then you will be able to see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” That’s a good word for anyone struggling with spiritual farsightedness.

I’m not sure if there is a piece of equipment that can detect and correct spiritual farsightedness, but I do believe God’s Word is like a good pair of glasses. I also believe that when I focus my mind and heart on the goodness and grace of God, I not only see myself better but I see those around me the way God wants me to see them. By the way, Good Glasses make a big difference!