Open Eyes

 

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17 ESV).

 

Our reading today is from one of the many experiences of the Prophet Elisha. Elisha’s servant was looking but not seeing. He saw the army of Aram surrounding their town, but he did not see the host of angels protecting God’s people. In the young man’s terror at the prospect of being surrounded by his mortal enemies, he was walking in spiritual blindness. We can be the same way. We might see only disappointments, or discouragements, or enemies all around. We might fear the stranger, complain about the lazy, and point fingers at those who disagree. We might fear that the world is lost to the devil, and we are the ones who suffer. We might be baited with putting God aside so that we can earn our fortune and have fun, only to experience everlasting loss.

 

Elisha’s prayer is a great way to address our blindness to God’s rule. We can pray, “Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see.” When our eyes are opened, we see sin as sin and everything that keeps us from following the direction God has given us as the victory it really is. When we are able to see the truth that Jesus has already won the victory, that Christ already rules in heaven, that this world is all in his hands, we need have no fear, for we know that God wins.

 

When the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, “he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” These heavenly hosts were surrounding and protecting them. The servant’s fear melted away. The Apostle Paul said it this way:

 

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39 ESV).

 

Open your eyes… we’ve already won the war!