Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 12:2, ESV)
Most who read Links Daily Devotionals are avid golfers and would agree that putting is an important aspect of the game, which recreational golfers mostly ignore. I am part of this latter group.
I have at least six stances with a dozen or so grips when it comes to putting. But I’ve had only one putter for the last 20 years. It’s an Odyssey 882. I bought it used. Maybe it’s antique status by now.
Once, on a job-related outing, I played a magnificent course that required a caddie. On the first green, as he was handing me my putter, he literally laughed at it. He called it a “Happy Gilmore” putter. I guess he wasn’t worried about his tip.
Regardless of the putter, executing a good putt is difficult. Before executing a putt, you must read the putt to estimate the break. You must see the minor undulations in the green and read the grain. Full disclosure…I can’t do that very well. I am looking, but I can’t see it.
For example, on my very first putt, my caddie showed me the proper line. I thought, “No way,” that putt is breaking that much. I heard him, thanked him, and acknowledged his advice as if I believed him.
In stubbornness, I saw it differently. Therefore, I aimed it on my determined line instead. Astonished, I watched the putt roll off the green down a steep slope into a collection area. And yes, I was repentant; I had ignored the caddie. Now the banter ramps up:
Caddie: “You didn’t believe me, did you?
Me: No, I didn’t.
Caddie: Why didn’t you believe me?
Me: I heard what you said; I could not see it.
Caddie: You have to trust me!
(The banter was fun. We had a great day.)
There is a profound spiritual parallel to this story. Many scriptures indicate our blind condition before Jesus opens the eyes of our hearts. For example:
[You ] Keep on hearing but do not understand; keep on seeing but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9-10, ESV)
However, there is “good news.” Jesus opens blind eyes:
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” (Isaiah 35:5-6, ESV)
I especially love Job’s epiphany. In just two verses, we see a concise declaration of the gospel message at work as repentance is the proper response, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6, ESV)
How do previously blind hearts see? “…God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV)
It is by the supernatural and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who were once spiritually dead that we are made alive. It’s his initiative, it’s his power, it’s his love that opens our eyes to behold the wonder of his grace.
Prayer: May God grant the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of our hearts enlightened, that we may know what is the hope to which He has called us.