Blinded by lies

Humans are great explorers, they have a tendency to search deeper and look for answers but are not pleased with discovering the actual truth, instead they want to see, hear, and find out what they desire. What is truth anyway? An ugly reality, a harsh and bitter fact, a treasure that is hidden, even if found, is kept hidden since it's hard to accept. A lie on the other hand has a revised definition: a personal opinion, a defense, an escape, an easy path, a shortcut, a protective shield, and so on. Everyone has their own excuses for the lies in their life. Then, has the truth lost its value?

Let me walk you through a vision. There was a certain man who was of full health, only hinderance is, he is blindfolded, yet he is positive and leads life as if he walks in light. Though it is true that the man has light around him, but he himself is in darkness. Now this optimistic person goes along the way confidently, not realizing it's a wrong path, until his foot is hurt by hitting against to a stone. He picks himself up, changes his footwear, grabs a supporting stick and walks in pride of his wisdom to tackle the difficulties. A scream is heard in the distance, people around the blindfolded man say that someone in the distance has failed to reach destination. Now this man continues to go forward along the same path, not seeing a steep valley ahead. Oh! it was a great fall. People around him conclude the same, "he couldn't make it." And they too proceed the journey and fall into the valley. Now you must have perceived that the other people were blindfolded too. Why weren’t they saved though?

Just because, something is believed and followed by many for centuries, doesn't mean it is truth and right way. Lies obstruct the reality, fills our lives with darkness and cause destruction. Though we see evidences of failure, we don't want to realize and redirect, because the lies are comfortable, beneficial, they make us acceptable by the society and satisfy our pride. Life would be much easier for the one who confesses and changes.

For it is written,

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity...

Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.

Therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but there is darkness! for brightness, but we walk in blackness! we grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; we stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places.

We all growl like bears, and moan sadly like doves; We look for justice, but there is none; For salvation, but it is far from us... [1]

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Now, there was a certain man in the district of Siloam, in East Jerusalem. He was born blind and life had challenged him to a greater extent. In those days, people born with different abilities were considered punished by God, hence people barely loved him. The rejection this man faced, forced him to lose identity and caused imaginary paralysis, obstructing him to do anything in life. So, he just sat down begging to eat his daily meal, even while he had living parents. A man of light passed by and His attention fell upon this blind man. There was a question in the background, "who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered,

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." [2]

‭When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”. So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Now, the neighbours, as usual with their spying and gossiping nature, murmured, "Is not this he who sat and begged?" and asked him of how his eyes were opened? He said the truth without any additions or keeping secrets., “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”[3] But the people were not satisfied with this reply, as they would not tolerate a man whom they called 'punished by God', becoming equal with them, moreover he was a beggar, hence they took him to the religions leaders.

The interrogation began and no matter how many times he said of what had happened, they weren't convinced. They even called the man's parents and questioned if he is their son who was born blind and asked how does he see now. A hardened heart is never pleased with morals and hence they accused the one who healed the man as sinner, they said He did not keep the sabbath day Holy, as their law doesn't permit people to do any works on a day called Sabbath, which is set apart for 'rest'. Is healing an unholy act? Now the ones who are accusing, are doing an unnecessary investigation and passing judgement on that very day, for which they have defined 'new' rules. The blind man who received sight answered and said to them,

“Why, this is a marvellous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.‭ Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” [4]

These so called 'leaders' did not have the minimum logic this person, whom they called a beggar, had. It was like a slap on their pride, so they cast him out saying, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" Now, Jesus got to know that the blind man whom He healed got expelled, and so He had compassion on him. He didn't want to just heal the man but also reveal to him the Truth, so when He had found him,

He said to him, "Do you believe in the son of God?"

He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”

Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains." [5]

This conversation is so deep and reveals to us the truth of how a person is measured by God. For the man sees the outward appearance and status, but God sees the heart, He reveals Himself to those who seek truth and righteousness. Walking in truth may not please everyone but it saves our life. The blind man not only received healing for his eyes, but also to his heart and soul, Jesus has given him new identity for he sought truth without fear. How wonderful it is that Jesus himself came to him right where he was, and even when he didn't ask, Jesus knew his heart, heard his cry and gave him salvation. The harsh labels are now removed and truth is established in the life of this man who was once called 'blind beggar' and now he shall walk in Light.

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For what was said has been fulfilled,

The Lord saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;

And His own righteousness, it sustained Him...

“The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,”

Says the Lord. [6]

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” [7]

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. [8] If you believe this word is true and want to chose the way that leads to life, can you say this along with me? - Your first prayer

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