2 Peter 1:9: For Whoever Lacks These Qualities Is So Nearsighted That He Is Blind, Having Forgotten That He Was Cleansed From His Former Sins.

2 Peter 1:9

[9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (ESV)

As a small child I learned what the word, "nearsighted" meant. I was in first grade and the teacher recognized that I was not seeing things the way that I should. I remember going to the eye doctor. He asked me all of those annoying questions about which lens was better. I tried the best I could to answer him. Some weeks later, my new eyeglasses arrived and a whole new world opened up to me.

I cannot imagine going back to the days of not being able to see. I now wear contacts or eyeglasses every day. My nearsightedness has been corrected by the lenses I choose to wear. I do not want to trade the wonder of seeing clearly with roaming around in a fog. This illustration is an important one. Peter describes the person who lacks the qualities he has been talking about, as being nearsighted, even blind.

Let's review those qualities again. They are: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. These qualities are to supplement our faith. It is not enough that we have received the wonderful gift of salvation. God has expectations of his children. The Apostle Peter made it clear in these verses that we are to "make every effort."

When you think about the current state of the church today, you can see how so many people who claim to know Christ are walking around as if they are completely blind. They act as if they have forgotten that they were cleansed from their former sins. How tragic. The world needs to see Christians being able to see with divine sight. Instead, too many are bumbling around, like they are blind, ignoring God's instructions.

This verse is challenging. I hope you will be encouraged to not go back to nearsightedness. Add godly qualities to your faith. Make every effort, with the Holy Spirit's help!