Since our family is spread over a bit of a distance now, holiday gatherings are cherished times. But I noticed during our latest family feast that one of my sons was sporting new reading glasses. Ah, the dreaded presbyopia had begun! Presbyopia, a combination of two Greek words, old man and eye, becomes evident when we cross that threshold of our 40’s, when the eye begins to lose its ability to change shape. As we age through our 50’s and beyond, presbyopia becomes more advanced. Goodbye 20/20 vision, hello reading glasses. The American Optometric Association concludes that a person with 20/20 vision can clearly identify 9 mm letters from 20 feet. Sadly, the days of that type of visual acuity are long-gone for me, but thankfully, my spiritual vision does not have to diminish.
When God gave His law to His children in the “desert of Sinai…before the mount,” those laws were intended to govern the conduct of this fledgling nation. But as God spoke the first ten foundational commandments, God is careful to use the singular form of the word thou rather than the plural (Thou shalt not…). The character of the nation hinged upon the character of the individual. It would be easy to get lost in the myriad of ordinances and statutes, especially if that law is viewed through the lens of do’s and don’ts. That’s when 20/20 vision is crucial.
When the people “saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking,” they were frightened, “stood afar off,” were overwhelmed by the terrifying display of power they were witnessing. But Exodus 20:20 brings the purpose of God’s awesome display into focus: “And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” Once His people saw the awesome power of God, they would be more motivated to obey and honor Him. God had spoken to prove, or test, them, to instill the fear, or deep reverence to His holiness, into their hearts. If they kept that Exodus 20:20 vision of the holiness of God in view, obedience would by the natural outflow of that reverence. Unfortunately, they would soon lose that 20/20 vision.
Is my life consistently marked by that Exodus 20/20 vision? Do I keep the absolute holiness, purity, and perfection of God before my eyes? Do I witness His power and bow humbly to His authority in my life? If I want to maintain that 20/20 vision, I need to recognize His awesome holiness daily.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Lord, may I always bow before the awesomeness and wonder of Your holiness.