Temples: Eye of the Beholder (Part I)
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”
Our eyes are incredible! The way that they can transfer vast amounts of visual information to our minds and at speed! They are able to translate this information from tones and colours (light signals) into electronic impulses (using photoreceptors) which in turn relay the information to the brain along optic nerves. It wouldn’t be a surprise to many of us to know that our vision is ‘the' most important sense to us. However it may be more surprising that the majority of us probably take this for granted, either with over use, under appreciation or the sheer fact we allow our eyes to process incorrect information. What we allow ourselves to see has a great impact upon who we are as individuals and the way that we will, in turn, see the world.
From where I am currently sat, I can see an array of people who are all using their sight in a variety of ways. Some are sharing time with their children flicking through activity magazines, others are sharing intimate looks with one another or catching up on daily events within newspapers. The truth is, without our sight we would miss out on so much beauty within this world, the people we love, nature, sports etc. However as a society we are becoming less aware of how fragile and important our eyes actually are. If we were faced with the possibility that we would be unable to see anything again, most of us would break down or not be able to function properly.
What if you had to use your own hands and other senses to be able to see again? That would be a lot of information to process and even our own fingers cannot tell orange from purple. Yes we might be able to feel shapes and understand smells but our eyes act as intermediaries for us, acknowledging shapes, objects and people before we can either hear them, feel them or smell them. I challenge you to try and function for part of your day without using your eyes, to take on any mundane everyday activity and not use your eyes.
This however isn’t the issue at hand here, the important factor isn’t about the fact that we have eyes but about the way that we use them. Our eyes play an important role within the way that we develop and the person or people that we will eventually become. The problem is that our eyes can betray our innocence and this is where it is important that our minds and our eyes form a healthy relationship with one another. That our minds translate what the eyes are seeing into information that is vital for our growth.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.”
If we allow ourselves to bear witness to the grotesque images that have developed alongside society we have every chance of falling victim to its own temptations. The more that we subject ourselves to these visions the more we are likely to become desensitised to them, becoming numb to their horror and unhealthy nature. The very images that are promoted within every corner of our lives are created to corrupt us, not help us. To damn us rather than set us free.
In Matthew we read that our eyes are like lamps for the entire body, that they cast light upon everything within our lives. However, what we allow that light to fall upon will in turn influence our very core, our hearts and our minds. So if these visions that we allow ourselves to watch are pleasant or pleasing then our lives will be filled with light, but if what we watch influences fear, terror or lust then we are becoming prey for the darkness. The more that we continue to be subjected to that darkness the thicker or deeper we can fall into it. To put it simply, we will become slaves to it, bound in darkness and immune in many ways; lost in the fog.
When I speak of these vision or these images I am speaking upon several matters that affect us not only on an obvious level but also within many subliminal ones. Half the time we may not even realise that we actually subjecting ourselves to these images but so subtle is the media today that this has become a very valid tactic. The term ‘sex sells’ is one of truth. It relates to the very nature of our humanity, to our need for love, intimacy and consequently lust. These images can be from the subtle images upon our social media feeds to the blatant pornographic ones, either way the implications still lead onto something more. On the other hand, these images can also relate to those that ‘other-worldly’ from graphic novels to cinematic horror.
Each of these I will go into greater depth in upcoming posts but I wanted to establish a main point to initially start with. We need to become more aware of everything that we are allowing our light to shine upon, not just for our own sake’s but also as parents and friends of others who in turn may suffer with these issues. The harsh reality is that many will either see this as healthy or as something that isn’t actually an issue, that they can stop or that it doesn’t impact them as much as they believe it to. That is the problem with an affliction or an addiction, those that are suffering with it are always the last to see it. We need to be there as supportive figures but also need to highlight the dangers these issues have upon their lives. That the issues that they face, the darkness that they find themselves within… is not infinite or lonely.
We need to be light-bearers, not just for ourselves but for others and at the same time God needs to be involved within the situation. We can only go so far on our own and then that is exactly the point where God needs to be involved, to assist and intervene and consequentially take over. He is the light that should shine within us and out of us. His word is truth and He can guide us through any situation that we find ourselves in. Where there is darkness there will always be victory, but only if He is involved. We do not have the strength, energy or the tools half the time to even survive certain situations or battles, but He does. So let us become a nation of light-bearers. Let the light within us shine so brightly that it is visible to those around us. Change your ways by asking yourself - What are the consequences of my actions here? What impact are these images ultimately going to have upon my life and my light? It is laid out for us clearly where our focus should be especially when we subject ourselves to particular images or sights.
“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
So focus on these things and dismiss those that are not beneficial to you or others. Because ultimately it is who we are in Him that will impact our light. Without Him we may blindly stumble through life, whilst with Him our eyes can be opened. We will seek Him in all we do ensuring it is as Paul states and not how we want it. With God at the centre we will unlock who we are and in return understand how we should be. So remember that your eyes are important to you, so how are you going to use them? Who will you use them for?
