2 Corinthians 4:4-5 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
Who is "the god of this world" who, the apostle Paul says, "has blinded the minds" of unbelievers? To be sure, the deceiver of minds comes in many forms. It is said the Hindus worship millions of gods. Now while that's staggering to think about, that number can't compare with the countless gods man has made for himself through the ages, such as money, power, lust, pleasure, ambition, and control. These are the gods of our own making—as infinite at the Hindu pantheon and as powerless to save.
Where then in the blindness of our self-indulgence are we to look? How are we even to know there is a place to look, a Person to whom we look? That is the saving work of God's Holy Spirit. He alone can address our blindness. When the Spirit removes the scales from our eyes, then—and only then—can we see "the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Therefore, St. Paul says, "what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord." He is the divine Ruler possessing all the might and magnificence, truth and triumph, love and longing for our souls which God alone has. "The light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ" takes from our eyes the scales of despair and lets us see ourselves as we are in Jesus, cleansed by His blood, sinless in His Father's sight, stainless because our transgressions have been removed from us—farther than the east is from the west.
God's glorious light is an errorless guide for the uncharted pathways ahead. If we place our feet in Jesus' footsteps, as His saving Gospel reveals them, we are walking in the way the Savior walked. His love will brighten our sin-darkened life. Though we may fail, Christ our light will never fail. Even if decades ago our faith was shipwrecked and we lost our way and our reliance on Jesus, it is never too late to return to the Lord of light for grace and guidance.
This glorious light is the illumination we need for the deepest darkness we face: death. Jesus tells us, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12b). This is Jesus speaking to you and me. Lay your sins beneath His cross, and in humble, penitent, confident faith, trust in His redeeming compassion. Let the crystal-clear Gospel of glory shine into your soul, and you will see your sins—though black as night—lose their guilty stains and become white as fresh-driven snow.
WE PRAY: Blessed Savior, open eyes that are dim to You, so they may receive You in faith and find forgiveness for their sins. In Your Name we pray. Amen.
From "Christ, Open Our Eyes!" a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier, the first Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. What are the gods of this world we encounter today?
2. How do such gods blind us to the one true God?
3. How can we keep our eyes open and stay alert to the things of God?
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 33, 43, 66 Philippians 1
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