In Revelation 3:14 we read: "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.'" The Lord gives Himself a name, calling Himself the Faithful Witness. After this, He evaluates my spiritual condition and calls me blind. It is very difficult for me to accept such an assessment, because I believe that I can see, and I can even prove it. With my own eyes, I have reviewed all the news reports on television, following the events in Babylon, and I simply cannot be mistaken. But the True Witness declares that I am blind, yet gives me a way out, advising me to buy eye salve so that I may see.
And if I am the person who teaches others, or if I play the role of a spiritual mentor and have influence over other people, what will happen if I fall into the pit of delusion? I think all my disciples will fall after me. But interestingly, even after falling into this pit, I will believe that I am on the right path, and find many proofs to convince my followers that things are going quite well.
Spiritual blindness is dangerous because it is not in my eyes, but in my mind and heart. The eyes see what is shown to them, and when they analyze the whole picture, then a signal about this is transmitted to the control center of the mind, where the imprinting of what is happening takes place. And then it becomes difficult to correct anything.
I remember a case when, as a teenager, I saved money for new jeans and went to the market to make a purchase. There I first saw the shell game and, observing the easy winnings, decided to double my capital and buy myself very good jeans. I watched the player's hands extremely carefully and finally placed a bet. In one moment I became very poor and disappointed, I was going home empty-handed, regretting that I had not pointed to the right shell. But later I learned that these masters hide the ball in their fingers, and you will never win, even if you are very attentive.
But if money can be saved, what to do if you start believing a lie, considering it light, and confidently accept delusion, thinking it is truth? For example, if I believe that there will be a secret rapture, and I expect Christ's Coming in this way, and I teach this to other people because I watched a movie about it, where am I in such an understanding of truth? Have you tried waiting for the bus you need where it never runs? A foolish occupation. And who is to blame for this mistake? Only the one who convinced you that you need to wait right here.
The Lord is not against us having a critical mind and being able to compare many facts, guided by our vision, common sense and logical conclusions. We are given the Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts in the right and correct direction. However, we have an enemy of the soul who wants to confuse us and present the truth in his own way. And he is very skillful at it. And my first agreement with delusion affirms it in my heart forever.
When calling someone blind, Jesus addressed a certain category of people who had spiritual authority and were mentors of the people. Christ's teaching was understandable to simple people, but it crossed out much of what was offered by the teachers and leaders of that time. We are surprised by the blindness of the scribes and Pharisees, but a similar spirit is alive in our days. And the Faithful Witness calls me such a person.
Christ's assessment is a correct statement in light of what He advises me to buy from Him.
By myself, I can walk in the light that is sufficient for my certain level of knowledge, but when the Lord invites me to rise higher and see great and inaccessible things that I do not know, my refusal will not make me more sighted, and my unwillingness to grow will not add wisdom to me.
And we live in a time when the whole world and all God's children will have to decide and make a final choice in the matter of worship, and a mistake in this choice will be fatal and irreparable.
To be blind and not correct anything means to give the enemy your hand and mind for applying his mark. The only thing that makes me sighted is buying eye salve, which is sold only along with other goods.
Babylon will certainly offer us something that we will have to agree with in order to live peacefully, and this will be presented as a common good. And even if it will infringe on my freedom and require me to go through some necessary procedures, for the sake of universal peace and security, this so-called good will be presented to me as something most important that I must accept. Perhaps at first there will be a rehearsal to establish the boundaries of society's patience and how much it will be possible to deprive people of personal freedom with their consent.
It is worth having a critical mind and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to see the danger and have wisdom in how to behave correctly and where to direct the attention of people who see you as a person transmitting Heavenly bread and having a deep relationship with Christ. Understanding danger is good, but knowing the way out is wise. We need God's wisdom, which is offered in the form of eye salve. The wise virgins are so called because they bought something necessary.
Knowing what the mark of the beast represents will not save me from accepting this sign if I turn out to be blind at the moment of being sealed with God's seal. God will not approve of my blindness with His affirmation. The Pharisees did not become more sighted when they saw what they had done to the predicted Messiah. They continued to persist and perished in their hardening.
The presence of God's love in my life will be the decisive factor at the moment of my trial before sealing. My blindness will testify to my spiritual ignorance and unwillingness to do anything for my salvation. When the Lord gives advice and offers a way out, expecting my positive response, He will not be satisfied with any other answer. He needs only my "yes" and subsequent steps in this choice.
Does the Lord expect wise watchmen with a critical mind to stand on the walls of Zion, who will report not only the approach of danger but also show the way out? If a shepherd transfers the protection and care of the sheep to the sheep themselves, giving the impression that they are in peace and safety, and the wolves should somehow warn about themselves, then what will such a leader be called? A hireling.
God does not give me the right to hang such labels on anyone. He alone has the authority to call us so, and He offers us the commandment to love one another, not blindly and thoughtlessly, but critically towards ourselves and with understanding and a sacrificial spirit towards others.
It is easy to identify danger if you ask God for wisdom and begin to delve into and study what is happening from different angles, not believing anyone, but testing and checking everything. God will not leave in ignorance those who want to understand what is happening and, having understood, will ask for wisdom from above on how to behave.
It is not worth accepting the recommendations and decisions of Babylon, but it is important to rely with all your heart on God's guidance and protection. And in this hope, I will very much need the faith and love that Amen advises to buy. He offers that with which I will stand and gain victory.
Questions for reflection on this chapter
1. Please read Matt. 15:14; 11:5-6; Luke 6:39-40; Ex. 4:11; 23:8; Deut. 16:19; Ps. 146:8; Prov. 1:17-18; 4:23-27; 12:15; 17:24; 21:2; Gen. 3:5-7; 1 Cor. 15:33; Eccl. 2:14; Isa. 42:18-20; 43:8; 56:10-11; Jer. 5:21-25; Rom. 2:20-21; Matt. 13:14-15; 20:30-34; Luke 24:16,31 in light of this chapter.
2. What did you understand from this chapter?
3. How is it possible to have eyes and not see?
4. Are you a sighted person? How can you determine this?
5. Who makes one blind and seeing? 2 Cor. 3:14.
6. What to do if I see that I don't understand something and am also spiritually blind?
7. If I ask Jesus to open my eyes, will He respond positively?
8. What to do if I believe a lie and consider it truth, and don't accept another point of view? After all, I am sincere in my understanding.
9. Is it important to know what to do at the end of time, or is the main thing to believe in God and sing more songs?
10. What is the difference between believing in God and having faith in God? Why are there so many denominations?
11. Is the Faithful Witness interested in my life and my spiritual vision?
12. What do you think, if I earnestly ask Jesus to give me wisdom and light about how to live and what to do in the last times, will He respond to such an attitude?
13. Has our School helped you see something more?
14. Have you seen the value and importance of the message to Laodicea?
15. What role does the Holy Spirit play in my enlightenment?