Another checkup, another new disorder. I did not realize there were so many things that could go wrong with an eyeball. Remember freshman biology in high school? The model of the eye sat up on its white plastic pedestal stand, and you could lift off the layers and see the various parts of the eye: the cornea, the pupil, the iris, and the retina. You might see the optic nerve running off from the back, and if you had a particularly diligent teacher you might hear the words sclera (eyeball skin) and vitreous humor (eyeball fluid), but that was it. That is what we were all taught an eyeball was made up of. Let me tell you, that is not even half of it!
My knowledge has come a long way in the past 17 years, but once again I have learned something new, something else that can go wrong. I won't trouble you with the four word disorder or describe it. Here is the frightening thing: within five years I could need a cornea transplant to save the eye. HOWEVER, in all caps, italicized, and underlined, the so-called easy cure is not for me. All these other problems I have make me a horrible candidate for that surgery—unless there is just no other choice. And should that be the case, the complications may very well cost me the eye.
My vision may now have a real, concrete time limit. So what do I do in the meantime? Of course I pray. That is obvious. I have already had one timely "coincidence" save my vision for a while longer. God can certainly make that happen again. But in the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, "Even if he doesn't…" how shall I prepare myself for the days of darkness ahead of me?
Instead of making this a totally self-absorbed post, let's consider your days of darkness, too, because it does not have to be blindness we are talking about here. What is troubling you? What lies ahead in your life that either might come or definitely will come, all things being equal? What should any of us do to prepare for those frightening times?
Let us fill our minds with the good. Are you reading his Word on a daily basis, not just a minimal chapter a day, but a good hour of real study time? Are you spending time with brothers and sisters in worship, in study together, in encouragement and exhortation? Have you ever taken advantage of the extra studies that take place during the week, both at the building and in homes?
Do you follow the admonition of Paul? Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Phil 4:8-9)
Or do you spend more time on Facebook, surfing the web, playing video games, watching mindless or, worse, worldly entertainment, or any number of other time-wasters that are using up the precious time you have left? How are you preparing for the moment when all you will have due to a disability or an illness or other circumstance is what you have stored in your heart?
The days of darkness will come, sooner or later, for all of us. What will see you through it?
For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. (Ps 18:28).
Dene Ward
My knowledge has come a long way in the past 17 years, but once again I have learned something new, something else that can go wrong. I won't trouble you with the four word disorder or describe it. Here is the frightening thing: within five years I could need a cornea transplant to save the eye. HOWEVER, in all caps, italicized, and underlined, the so-called easy cure is not for me. All these other problems I have make me a horrible candidate for that surgery—unless there is just no other choice. And should that be the case, the complications may very well cost me the eye.
My vision may now have a real, concrete time limit. So what do I do in the meantime? Of course I pray. That is obvious. I have already had one timely "coincidence" save my vision for a while longer. God can certainly make that happen again. But in the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, "Even if he doesn't…" how shall I prepare myself for the days of darkness ahead of me?
Instead of making this a totally self-absorbed post, let's consider your days of darkness, too, because it does not have to be blindness we are talking about here. What is troubling you? What lies ahead in your life that either might come or definitely will come, all things being equal? What should any of us do to prepare for those frightening times?
Let us fill our minds with the good. Are you reading his Word on a daily basis, not just a minimal chapter a day, but a good hour of real study time? Are you spending time with brothers and sisters in worship, in study together, in encouragement and exhortation? Have you ever taken advantage of the extra studies that take place during the week, both at the building and in homes?
Do you follow the admonition of Paul? Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Phil 4:8-9)
Or do you spend more time on Facebook, surfing the web, playing video games, watching mindless or, worse, worldly entertainment, or any number of other time-wasters that are using up the precious time you have left? How are you preparing for the moment when all you will have due to a disability or an illness or other circumstance is what you have stored in your heart?
The days of darkness will come, sooner or later, for all of us. What will see you through it?
For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. (Ps 18:28).
Dene Ward
RSS Feed