PASSING along one morning through a busy Glasgow street, a line on the bill of one of the regular daily papers caught the eye of the writer. It declared in bold clear print: “SIGHT FOR THE BLIND—REMARKABLE STORY.” Wondering what this “remarkable story” could be, I went into the next newspaper shop, and on looking through the paper found a long paragraph under the heading: “DARKNESS TO LIGHT.” It was indeed a remarkable story, and undoubtedly true.
It told how a man, blind from birth, and now thirty years of age, had received his sight at the Ophthalmic Institution. He had evidently regarded his blindness as incurable, and was passing his time in his native village as best he could. His other senses had evidently become much sharper through the kind providence of God, and it was very wonderful to read of the number of things he could do though blind. However, the time was soon to arrive when he would receive his sight, and thus it happened: ―
A medical student went to stay in this village, and in due course learned about this poor man who had been blind from birth; and being no doubt interested in his case, he arranged for him to be treated by the surgeons at the institution. The result is that the young man, who scarcely a month ago was quite blind, has now been discharged in full possession of his sight. I am sure he has good cause to remember the brave and skillful surgeon who performed the delicate operation, and who was thus the means, in God’s hand, of giving him his sight.
The newspaper account further related that the blind man had been healed in time to see His Majesty the King, as the Royal Procession passed through the city during the recent State visit to Scotland.
As I thought about this story, the case of the blind man recorded in the ninth chapter of John came before me. He, too, was blind from birth and was of age before he received his sight. The wonderful thing about his case, however, was, that although he was only a blind man by the wayside, he had the blessed Son of God as his physician; besides which, for his simple testimony to the Lord Jesus, he was cast out of the synagogue. The King of kings had come to His own, and they had not received Him. He whose right it was to reign had not been royally acclaimed and honored. No, he had been rejected; but in spite of all He could notice a blind man by the wayside, and could stay to deliver him from his woe.
But, dear reader, there is a far more serious form of blindness than his, and it affects ALL men and women born into this world, not a few only. Until saved by grace, all suffer from having BLINDED MINDS. The Scripture distinctly states that “the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (see 2 Cor. 4:3-63But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:3‑6)). People who believe not have blinded minds! This is the only thing that can account for the hardness and indifference of people’s hearts. They have heard the gospel many times, and are acquainted with the plan of God’s salvation, but they still either neglect or reject the Lord Jesus Christ who is waiting even today to receive weary, heavy-laden ones.
There is no other story so remarkable as the old, old story—that sight-giving, life-giving story of Jesus and His love.
The touch of faith, though it may but reach the hem of His garment, instantly removes the blinding scales of Satan.
“Just as I am, poor, wretched, BLIND,
SIGHT, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come!”
Dear unsaved reader, go direct and go at once to Jesus for sight, life, rest, and peace, and all “these flowers of deathless bloom” will be yours.
The attitude of God’s heart of love is toward all, that they might be turned from darkness to light, and from the kingdom and power of Satan to Himself.
A. M. S.