According to my ophthalmologist, a cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. It is a very common condition, afflicting more than 3 million cases annually in the United States. People who have cataracts experience cloudy vision that is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. This clouded vision makes it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend's face. Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight in their initial stages of growth. But with time, cataracts eventually interfere with our vision.
My ophthalmologist’s description of cataracts was received at a time when my Sunday Bible Class was studying Numbers and Deuteronomy. As I read of the reaction of the Children of Israel to God’s provision for them, I was able to apply my knowledge of physical cataracts to their development of spiritual cataracts which clouded their vision for all that God had done for them.
First Corinthians 10 summarizes the development of the spiritual cataracts and serves as a warning to me that just as cataract growth is gradual, if I am not continually monitoring my spiritual vision I can gradually acquire a condition that results in the need for my heavenly Father to perform spiritual cataract surgery to correct it. Consider the gradual clouding of the ancient Hebrews eyes:
Initially, they craved evil things (10:6).
idolatry was then embraced (10:7).
immorality became a common, acceptable habit (10:8).
God’s goodness transitioned to entitlement (10:9).
a cynical and negative attitude embodied their lifestyle (10:10).
While being the recipients of God’s best blessings, they became cool, distant, and indifferent. Just as with the growth of physical cataracts, their spiritual cataracts did not appear suddenly, but, gradually, their 20/20 spiritual vision became clouded.
If you could schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist specializing in spiritual vision, what type of treatment do you think the doctor might suggest should the diagnosis be spiritual cataracts? The good news is that Christians are blessed with the treatment prescribed by the Great Physician found in the ultimate medical textbook, the Bible, and the condition is 100% curable. This treatment includes:
cultivating a hunger and thirst for God (Ps. 42:1-2a).
embracing an attitude of submission to God’s will and ways (James 4:7).
consistently evaluating their spiritual condition (1 Cor. 11:31-32).
purposing to make spiritual principles a priority in their lives (Matt. 6:33).
refusing to slump into a monotonous devotion routine (Matt. 5:6).
focusing on joy of the Lord being their strength (Neh. 8:10b).
rejecting the 21st century attitude of presumption or spiritual entitlement (Num. 15:30; Ps. 19:13).
Kelsey’s Korner explores this epidemic of spiritual entitlement and suggests a biblical cure for it.
KELSEY’S KORNER
Have you seen the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”? I have to admit, as a child that movie, in all its strangeness, terrified me! One by one all of the “rotten” children who grew up in privileged, spoiled lives were led to their demise by their own greed and sense of entitlement. Only Charlie, the poor, humble boy that saw his success as an undeserved blessing, prevailed.
As young millennials and Gen Z’rs of America, we have never experienced true poverty. Our conception of poverty is living in government housing and receiving free lunches at school as a student….maybe even needing help from the Salvation Army, God forbid. On top of that, American poverty doesn’t typically last—with the support of our thriving economy, philanthropic agencies, help from the government, and hard work, before too long, out-of-luck Americans are often able to climb back to a comfortable standard of living. Compared to many other parts of the world, American poverty is privileged.
Yet, similar to the rotten children of Willy Wonka, growing up without ever truly being in need can create delusional standards of entitlement. We deserve free college. We need 6 months of paid maternity leave. We demand free healthcare! And when the government or companies can’t follow through with our demands, we “throw a fit,” feeling cheated and sorry for ourselves.
Although this epidemic of entitlement is alarming, what concerns me more is how this infectious mentality is affecting our personal and corporate walks with God. Like a miniature devil on the shoulder, entitlement constantly whispers lies into our ears, tricking us into believing we deserve or need certain things. Before long, the God of the universe, to whom we were created to serve, becomes reduced to a magic genie in the sky—a cosmic daddy eagerly waiting to give us happiness and riches. If God doesn’t answer our prayers for health, safety, success, happiness..., if He doesn’t “speak to us” when we ask or show us a sign that He’s there, than we accuse him of not loving us or even existing at all. We accuse Him of not listening, not understanding, and not having time for us, so we decide we don’t have time for Him. Instead, we fix our gaze on the fleeting pleasures of earth.
So, what is the cure for spiritual entitlement, and how can we tell if our thinking is affected by it? Just as Charlie’s accurate view of himself and what he deserved led to his success, I believe an accurate assessment of ourselves and what we truly deserve will free us from any misconception of supposed entitlement.
Who we are—before we were saved, we were enemies of God (James 4:4), overcome by sin and rebellion (Col. 1:21), tiny here-today-gone-tomorrow blimps in eternity (Is. 40:7-8). And who is God? He is everything we could never be! A perfect, sinless, omniscient, three in one God who stands outside of time (Deut. 32:4, Rom. 11:33, Col. 1:17, Jer. 23:23-24). Full of grace and love, though we were God’s enemies, through Jesus He made a way for us to be His sons and daughters, sharing in the reward of Christ our King (Rom. 5:6-10)! So undeserved is our status that that in heaven we will cast our crowns before Him, joining in the ceaseless songs of the angels (Rev. 4:10-11).
What we deserve—we have sinned against the only perfect one—the creator of ALL. We deserve nothing more than eternal separation and divine punishment for our offense (Rom. 6:23). BUT God, rich in mercy, has given us eternal life with Him through Christ (Eph. 2:4-9). This is unspeakable grace!
Though we deserve death for our sins against the Holy One, Christ gives eternal life to all those who are covered by the blood of the lamb. This is our unmerited prize, and when we truly trust in and dwell on these truths, prayers of gratitude quickly drown out the tempting whispers of entitlement.
THE EVERYDAY HOMEMAKER’S MONTHLY MEDITATION THOUGHT
God’s Word states, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2)
Therefore, I may boldly say, “the permanent correction for spiritual cataracts is to keep my eyes focused on Jesus.”
Blessings on your day as you focus on making your house a home!