Ever had “pink eye” as a kid? Yes, that irritating and painful itching eye infection. Most of you probably went to the doctor and got some salve and in a few days, it was on the mend.
For 84 million people worldwide, mostly children, it’s a different story. They start out the same way you did… itching eyes, redness, and pain. But they have a disease called Trachoma. Dr. Richard Ho from Valley Church tells me it’s the #1 cause of permanent and irreversible blindness worldwide. It is a public health problem in 42 countries and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people. The tragedy of Trachoma infection is that it is easily treated with the antibiotic azithromycin that costs about $1.50 per dose. Unfortunately, many have no access to this treatment.
But imagine a case where someone is offered the treatment and refuses it. Perhaps they are distrustful of doctors, or afraid, or too proud to take help. The disease continues its destructive path and makes the person permanently blind.
In chapter 12:37 to 50 of John’s Gospel, he tells us about people around Jesus who were offered a solution to “blindness” but refused it. He recounts the story of a prophet who fought the same fight 700 years before Jesus. But the results were the same. Refusal to follow God took its destructive path and led to spiritually blind eyes and hardened hearts.
Just like then, there are people today who don’t want to see or hear about Christ. Like Jesus, John, Isaiah, the apostle Paul, and saints throughout history, this saddens us, particularly when we love those people. It’s easy to get discouraged by their responses. Yet Jesus pressed on with his mission and so should we. God’s purposes don’t fail because of opposition. In fact He uses their blindness to advance His Kingdom!
The beauty of the Gospel is that God mercifully saves and heals those who turn to Him. Eyes are opened and hearts are softened. His invitation to believe in Him stands wide open “…believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” (John 12:36)
This Sunday we’ll have Communion. I encourage you to meditate on Isaiah 53 to prepare for a time of repentance as well as a celebration for what Christ has done for us on the Cross.
Until all have heard,
Kurt
P.S. Also imagine someone has the disease and wants the cure for blindness but can’t get it. Approximately one third of the world’s population has no access to the Gospel. Thank you for your faithful support for our Global Partners taking the message of Christ around the world. Valorie and I covet your prayers as will be visiting some of them in difficult areas of the Middle East in March and early April. Let me know if you’d like to join our prayer team.