3 Barriers To Spiritual Vision
I want to close out a study on developing spiritual sight and the role of the Spirit in setting our vision. The focal passage has been, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
A previous blog established the principles of a real unseen spiritual world and the Holy Spirit as the source which allows us to see into an unseen spiritual world. Another blog examined the lives of Elisha and Moses and established how this sight into an unseen spiritual world guided them and can guide us. I want to wrap up this study by answering an obvious question. Why don’t more believers live with a great emphasis upon the unseen spiritual world? To answer that I want to give you three obstacles that keep us from living with spiritual sight.
The first problem involves our inability to see beyond the appearance of the physical world. It is easy to elevate the physical elements of our world to such a lofty place, that the spiritual realities of an unseen world are required to validate itself. Most people hold the physical world to be primary and the spiritual world to be a secondary world or non-existent. Remember that Paul tells us the unseen world is eternal and weighty, which means it is superior to the physical world. A supernatural event is the unseen world making is superiority known in a natural or physical way.
The ability to reverse the order of the spiritual and physical is most evident in the account of “doubting Thomas”. He required physical proof before he could believe a spiritual reality. “So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’” John 20:25.
The other disciples give a testimony of visual proof concerning the resurrection of Jesus. They do not say “We heard a rumor that Jesus may be alive.” They come with a statement of what they have seen, a type of physical evidence in and of itself. However, that is not enough for Thomas. He has to touch the evidence. His statement in an emphatic, “I will never believe” until I have proof. Physical proof leads to fact not faith. It does not require faith to believe in what can be seen, touched, heard, smelt, or tasted. It requires a type of spiritual sight to have faith in something you cannot see.
The second obstacle involves our emotions. While you can allow feelings, like fear or comfort, to lead you to place the physical over the spiritual, I am actually arguing for the opposite. I believe you should have an emotional attachment to the unseen reality of who Jesus is and the nature of the Kingdom of God. Peter also seems to argue for this. “Thou you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that ins inexpressible and fill with glory.” 1 Peter 1:8. Peter is urging us to have a love for Someone we have never physically seen. He is also calling us to be overwhelmed with such emotion for Jesus that we cannot express it fully.
This is the heart and nature of true worship. It is rooted in the spiritual because God is spirit, but it is expressed physical by worshipers in a physical world reaching out to a spiritual one. Our struggle is to try and express the emotions we have for an unseen Savior and exalt the nature of His Kingdom. Music is a great way to express emotional feelings and that is why we often think of it first when it comes to worship. However, your prayers can express your emotions toward God. The way you treat others, your work, your general approach to life can all be acts of worship if they indicate the love and joy you have for Jesus and promote His glory. If you can learn to live with passion and emotion for an unseen world, then the unseen world will become a priority in your life.
The final obstacle is the confrontational nature of elevating the unseen spiritual over the physical. This involves two different worlds or kingdoms that for a period of time coexist. These kingdoms are in conflict and at war. Twice in the 6th chapter of Ephesians Paul speaks of putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11 & 13). Between these verses, Paul defines the battlefield for us. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
What Paul defines for us is the nature of spiritual warfare. There is unseen spiritual evil at work and operating on various levels. It is easy to make the battle physical because we can see it and touch it. Demonic spiritual forces can create physical battles to hide their unseen spiritual presence. If we battle merely on a physical realm, then we ignore the unseen spiritual world. When you and I embrace the reality of a spiritual unseen world and decide that Jesus and the Kingdom of God need to be worshiped with great passion and emotion, we can expect a physical battle or distraction. This is an attempt to divert your attention from the real spiritual world to the physical one. Paul is telling us very boldly, keep your focus on the spiritual, in fact, fight to keep your attention of the spiritual. Do not get distracted by the physical.
This can be hard work and is often a difficult battle, but it is worth it. It is in the spiritual is where you will find ultimate victory over the physical struggles and limitations. It is out of the spiritual is you will find purpose, identity, and meaning over the physical. The spiritual is where you will see something bigger than yourself and something grander that just here and now.
So seek to see the unseen spiritual world and depend on the Holy Spirit to provide spiritual vision. Elevate the spiritual above the physical, be passionate in your pursuit of the spiritual, and don’t be distracted or defeated by the physical.