Reality

I snapped this picture of Oscar the other day.  His eyes were closed.  I was reminded of our kids growing up.  Sometimes, they would close their eyes and think that we couldn't see them because their eyes were closed.  If they couldn't see, we couldn't either, I guess.  I suppose that makes sense to children.  But, as adults, we laugh and think it is cute.

However, I think we sometimes do the same thing.  We want to close our eyes to the reality around us.  We think if we ignore them, life's problems, challenges, and games will just disappear.  We open our eyes and realize life is still right there staring us in the face.  I have been guilty of this.

The trick is learning to see with more than just our eyes.  What we need is to ask the Lord to open the eyes of our heart so we can go beyond what we see.  We walk by faith, not by sight, but we can not be oblivious to the reality around us.

King David closed his eyes to reality.  He tried to live in a fantasy world that involved his sin.  He literally destroyed lives in process, including the child that was conceived in his sin.  When the Prophet Nathan confronted David, he finally opened his eyes.  But, the damage was done.  Sin, while it can be forgiven, comes with consequences.  Therefore, we need to walk through this life with our eyes wide open - naturally and spiritually.

Read Psalm 51.  David opened both his natural and spiritual eyes and saw his sin.  He truly repented before God.  God forgave him, but he still had to live with the destruction he caused in the lives of others.  Tragic, but that is real life.  Open your eyes, before it is too late.  God's eyes are open.  He sees (see verse 4).  If it is too late, follow the example of David.  After all, he was a man after God's own heart.

 1 Have ^amercy upon me, O God, according to thy ^blovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies ^cblot out my ^dtransgressions.

 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and ^acleanse me from my sin.

 3 For I ^aacknowledge my transgressions: and my ^bsin is ever before me.

 4 Against thee, thee only, have I ^asinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be ^bjustified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother ^aconceive me.

 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 7 Purge me with ^ahyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 10 Create in me a ^aclean heart, O God; and ^brenew a right spirit within me.

 11 Cast me not away from thy ^apresence; and take not thy ^bholy spirit from me.

 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be ^aconverted unto thee.

 14 ^aDeliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

 16 For thou desirest not ^asacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

 17 The ^asacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a ^bcontrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 18 Do good in thy good ^apleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.