402. Who has Enlightened Eyes of the Heart

The one who has enlightened eyes is the one who is vigilant and alert to the welfare of the individual and the welfare of the church as a whole. It is the one who is determined to use his time in the best possible way in order to get the most out of his life. It is the one who keeps his eye on those who are rebellious and stops them on their way before they have had a chance to develop in all their evil. It is the one who notices the poor in spirit and helps them, right in the midst of the rich who have no need of help. It is the one with an eye for those who are poor in this world’s goods and who helps those who are trying to hide their need.

It is the one who parts company with those who are along only for the sake of personal gain. It is the one who sees to it that those who admire worldly glory suffer the loss of it in the church, and who sees to it that frugal and God-fearing souls develop and become examples worthy of following. It is the one who puts a bit in the mouths of those who have “preacher’s itch” and encourages those who are more reserved. It is the one who exposes those who love to doll themselves up and sees to it that those who dress modestly do not brag about their modesty. It is the one who parts company with his admirers according to the flesh and who hates gifts.

It is the one who preaches generosity to the covetous and frugality to the spendthrifts. It is the one who is a stumbling block for the arrogant and who catches spiritual intrigues in wisdom’s outstretched net.

It is the one who disappoints carnal expectations, who returns flattery with cold water and pure love with love in return. It is the one who does not promise more than he can keep and who holds those who have made promises strictly accountable. Such a person pays his debts and sees to it that those with whom he has to do also pay their own debts. He keeps watch over the blemishes at love feasts. Jude 12. Those with whom he has to do get the feeling that he is keeping an eye on them.

It can be said that the one who does all these things has enlightened eyes of the heart. With enlightened eyes of the heart, a person feels and they suffer because not even half of what they see can be corrected so that hearts can be healed. The profane tremble under the gaze of enlightened eyes, and a fool prefers to keep quiet.

The one whose eyes are anointed and enlightened has inherited much from his heavenly Father. However, it is not only in our ministry to others, within the church, that we have use for enlightened eyes. We also have use for them when we look into the perfect law of liberty, when we behold the things to come, and when we look into the finished work of Christ.

By the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and with enlightened eyes of the heart, we will understand this hope. Hope becomes living because it contains something living. God’s light illuminates all the glory and all those things that are rightfully ours. Enlightened eyes behold it, and the heart believes and hopes in it.

Everyone whose eyes are enlightened comes to this same hope, each in his calling. There is only one hope, because there is only one Savior, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God, the Father of all.

(Excerpt from the book Ephesians.)