The disciples asked Jesus about a blind man who was blind from birth, “Who sinned that this man was born blind? Was it because of his sins or his parent’s sins?” He replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Jesus spoke like this, but He did not refute that bodily suffering may be the result of sin.
For example, Miriam opposed the authority of Moses and was infected with leprosy, and the Lord once said, “You are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The Law also warns several times that the sin of parents can bring disaster on their children. For sure, God sometimes allows hardships to come on people in order to refine them. This was the case with Paul. He confessed that God allowed a thorn in his flesh so that he would not be boastful. Moreover, there can be instances, like Job, when you suffer catastrophes even if you did not commit any particular sins, and instances, like the man blind from birth, when personal disasters are used to glorify God. Therefore, if we are currently going through bodily weaknesses, it is wise to accept them as spiritual warnings.
Obedience opposes the effects of sin, but sin opposes the effects of grace. The sin we are referring to is not failure to attain some standard that God has fixed, like people commonly believe. This is sin: rejecting the light of God’s grace (since He wants to save us). God poured immense love on us and is pouring it even now, but many people do not respond to it. When we consider the depth and earnestness of His love, not responding to it is like rejecting it. This light shines on us while we dwell in darkness. If people reject the light this way, how can they receive the benefits of this light?
The man who was blind from birth opened his eyes because he did not reject the love that God gave him and obeyed immediately. The Lord made mud with His saliva, put it on his eyes and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. Many who were watching laughed when the Lord said this. But the blind man responded to the Lord’s wishes, for the Lord wanted to save him. Ignoring what other people thought, he walked to the Pool of Siloam without hesitation - and as the Lord told him - he washed not only his eyes, but his whole body. He showed that he had faith for salvation.
This blind man was unable to recognize or even find the Savior. The Lord first looked for him and became a light to him. It is the same with us today. The Lord remembered us when we did not know we were going to be destroyed. He approached us first and removed every despair, sadness, horror and destruction that we had to suffer. Not only does the Lord guide us today so we can attain eternal life, but He entrusted us with the work of heaven. We should now display God’s light by our obedience. When God speaks to us through the church, we should respond with care. The Lord found us when we did not understand anything, so let’s come to Him and demonstrate that we have faith for salvation. By means of a pure faith, let’s open an eternal path of blessing for both our own spirits and our children’s.
(Lord’s Day Service on February 13, 2022)
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