There are many idioms dealing with the "eyes." Do you know of any?
Here are some with their corresponding meanings (taken from the Free Dictionary) -
- "all eyes" - with a lot of interest in something or someone you see
- "be all eyes" - watch something or someone with a lot of interest
- "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" - Different people have different ideas about what is beautiful.
- "clap eyes on someone or something" - set eyes on someone or something
- "somebody's eyes are out on stalks" - looking at someone or something in a way that shows that they think that person or thing is extremely attractive
- "feast eyes on" - look at something with pleasure
- "have an eye for something" - have an inclination for someone or something
But, for the purpose of this message, closely read these two idioms on the "eye" and their meanings -
- "keep half an eye on something/someone" - watch without giving them all your attention
- "keep one eye on something/someone" - give part of your attention to one thing or person, while also giving your attention to something or someone else
Believe it or not! Your "eye" tells us if you are ready for the Lord's return. Your "eye" tells us if your heart is more attached to earthly things than to Jesus.
In this message, we would like to closely examine four verb phrases - relating to the "eye" - to see where you stand - as far as your readiness for the soon return of Jesus goes.
The four verb phrases are - looking onward...looking back... looking away...and looking upward.
Luke 9:62 says -"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Here Jesus referred to the ploughman. In using the words - "having put his hand to the plow" - He was using a proverbial expression which signified undertaking any business or engaging in any task. In order for the plowman to accomplish his work, it was crucial that he looked onward and not back.
In speaking these words, Jesus was likening the plowman to His disciples - who on entering Christianity are to do so with a determined focus - with their whole heart. Like the plowman, they are required to "look onward" - serve the Kingdom of God without vacillation or without "looking back" to the things of the world with regret.
There cannot be a distracted attention. There cannot be a divided heart.
Jesus' followers must not be "almost" but "altogether" followers of Him.
There cannot be a "looking back" with regret on what was lost in coming to Him. There cannot be a "looking behind" at some object which attracts the believer's interest - causing him to still love the world and its pleasures, wealth, and honors. There cannot be a "looking back" to a worldly lifestyle or the reluctance to break with it.
Barnes' Notes said this - "Religion (Christianity) is everything or nothing."
Believer's Bible Commentary said - "Christ must reign in the heart without a rival. All other loves and all other loyalties must be secondary."
Matthew Henry said - "Those who begin with the work of God must resolve to go on with it, or they will make nothing of it. Looking back inclines to drawing back, and drawing back to perdition."
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Only if you are "looking onward" and not "looking back." Only if you are not tampering with the world - "looking" at its pleasures or seeking its society. Only if Christ is reigning in your heart without a rival.
The Bible gives us an example of a woman who "looked back." The Jews gave her the name of Adith or Irith. She happened to be Lot's wife.
In Luke 17:32, Jesus warned us of her with these words - "Remember Lot's wife."
For what is she to be remembered? She is to be remembered for one act - she "looked back." And for that - God made her a monument of His displeasure.
What caused her to "look back"?
She was reluctant to leave a place marked for destruction. She "looked back" with yearning after that which she left behind. Her "gaze" signified that even though she was out of Sodom, Sodom was not out of her. Her "looking back" indicated that her heart was still in Sodom. She had placed her affections on an earthly society rather than the heavenly one.
Lot's wife represents those who are attached to earthly things - those whose hearts are still in this world.
Are you in the same company with Mrs. Lot?
Proverbs 4:25 says - "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee." Yet, do you find yourself with "wandering eyes" - roving after every thing that presents itself - being totally distracted from the things of God?
Psalm 119:37 says - "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity..." Yet, do you find yourself enamored with "vain" things - the things of this world, such as beauty, finery, riches, honors, pleasures, and profits?
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Not if you are in the same company with Mrs. Lot. Not if you are unwilling to leave a world marked for destruction. Not if your affections are on an earthly society rather than an heavenly one.
Do you remember these two idioms that we mentioned earlier?
- "keep half an eye on something/someone" - watch without giving them all your attention
- "keep one eye on something/someone" - give part of your attention to one thing or person, while also giving your attention to something or someone else
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Not if you are keeping half an eye on Jesus (watching for Him without giving Him all your attention) or keeping one eye on the world (giving part of your attention to the things of this world).
Lastly, we want to examine the verb phrases - looking away and looking upward.
Hebrews 12:2 says - "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."
In this verse of Scripture is implied that the Christian is to look off and look on - to look off or from the world and all secular concerns and to look on to Jesus and all spiritual and heavenly things connected with Him.
John Gill made this comment - "...a believer should be always looking to Christ, and off of every object..."
Hence, he is to look off or away from everything which may distract him from Jesus. He is to look away from others - their failures as well as their attractions. He is to look away from himself - expecting nothing from self. He is to look away from the world's attractions and illusions. And he is to look away from his trials which may have the power in care and sorrow to mesmerize his soul - absorbing it in vexation and discouragement.
Read what Alexander Maclaren had to say concerning this - "A man walking along a narrow ledge on a mountain has only one chance of safety. He must not look at his feet or at the yawning gulf beneath into which his dizziness will hurl him if he gazes down. He must look onward and upward. Look onward and upward at Christ and not at the waves, as Peter did. If you turn your eyes away from Him and fasten them on your troubles and afflictions, down you will be sure to go."
So we see that the believer must not only look off or from the world and the ensnaring things of the world but also look off or from secular concerns - trials, troubles, and tragedies. "He must look onward and upward...at Christ." For He alone is and has the power that can break the spell of earth's enchantments.
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord?
Allow these remaining idioms to answer that question for you -
- "keep an eye out for someone/something" - watch for the arrival or appearance of someone or something
- "keep your eyes peeled" - watch very carefully for someone or something
- "make sheep's eyes at somebody" - look at someone in a way that shows you love them or are attracted to them
- "only have eyes for someone" - be loyal to one person/ be interested or attracted to only one person
Are you "keeping an eye out for" Jesus? Are your "eyes peeled" - watching very carefully for His arrival or appearance?
Are you as one of God's sheep "making sheep's eyes at" Jesus - showing Him and everyone else that you love Him and have no attraction for anyone or anything else? Do you "only have eyes for" Him?
Your "eye" tells us if you are ready for the Lord's return. Your "eye" tells us if your heart is more attached to earthly things than to Jesus.
Which way your "eye" is looking - onward...back...away...and upward - draws the conclusion.
And what might that be?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved