Spiritual myopia

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Spiritual Myopia

Myopia

• A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it. Also known as near-sightedness or short-sightedness

Myopia

• A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it. Also known as near-sightedness or short-sightedness

• It is the result of both environmental and genetic factors

• Myopia is corrected with spectacles or refractive surgery. The most common surgical procedure performed to correct myopia is laser

Spiritual Myopia• When the believer becomes short-

sighted and unforesightful. When he lacks the ability to see into the future

• When the believer’s perception of reality is limited to what is near i.e. to his immediate needs and context. Concerned only with the NOW

• When the believer lacks discernment and long-range perception in thinking or planning

2 Peter 1:5-10

Symptoms of Spiritual Myopia

1. A depletion of faith supplements

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly

kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity2 Pet.1:5-7 (KJV)

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly

kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity2 Pet.1:5-7 (KJV)

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue

with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness,

and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and

brotherly affection with love. 2 Pet.1:5-7 (ESV)

2. Amnesia (loss of memory) These are the moments when

believers claim to have a sudden loss of memory

A failure to recall and apply truths learned to their present situations and experiences

They ignore and disregard the truths they have learned

2 Pet 1:9 “he...has forgotten that he was purged...”

3. Short-sightedness

Where foresight is chronically absent in the believer’s life.

He struggles see afar off or consider his future. He can see only what is near

2 Pet 1:10 an inability to “make your calling and election sure”

Spiritual Myopia in the Bible

1. Esau chose to forego his future and destiny for present gratification (Gen.25:29f)

2. Lot was myopic when he chose the land that looked pleasant outwardly (Gen. 13)

3. A myopic Israel in the wilderness - consumed with immediate needs like food & water and not with their destination

Spiritual Myopia in the Bible

4. Peter became fascinated with the spectacular (Jesus walking on the water) instead of focusing on the command of going to the other side (Matt.14:28)

5. The prodigal son chose to take his portion prematurely and squander it in immoral living (Luke 15)

Christ: No Myopic Defects

1. He endured the cross and suffered the shame for the joy that was ahead (Heb.12:2)

2. He chose not to retain his form of God but emptied Himself and took on the form of a man (Phil.2:6-7)

3. He did not succumb when tempted by the devil. The devil offered Him authority over the kingdoms of this world (Luke 4:5-8)

Correcting

Spiritual Myopia

Some considerations:

• Many believers have become prisoners of the present

• You imprison yourself in the present in two ways:1. When you define your life by what you

see and experience in the present2. When you fail to consider your future

• Deterioration is at the heart of a life that is imprisoned by the present

Hebrews 11:13-14

• The faith of the ancient patriarchs was marked by a clear perception of the future

• They were not imprisoned by their circumstances and present time

Lamentations 1:1f

• V.9 The source of the uncleanness: NOT CONSIDERING THE FUTURE

• The result: IMPRISONED IN THE PRESENT

• The enemy will advance against a life that is absorbed by the present

• The more backward-looking you become, the more imprisoned you are in the present

Isaiah 46:10• “Declaring the end from the

beginning”• “Declaring/make known”– Heb “nagad” – to reveal, announce, set

before one that which determines one’s conduct

• “the end”– Heb “achariyth” – the future, the finish

• “the beginning”– Heb “reshiyth” – the first instance, the

origin, birthing

Isaiah 46:10• Some considerations:1. God shows us the end only– not the

process (cf Abraham’s call – Gen12). The end will determines the process

2. Your comprehension of your future defines you; your past does not

3. Your present inaccurate state is not the result of your past; it is a result of our blindness of our future

Conclusion How can I be delivered from the imprisonment

of the present (myopia)?

I must be captivated by

the sight of my future…

…and I must be deliberately

moving towards it!

Correcting

Spiritual Myopia

Spiritual myopia

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