"Log-Eyed" People

There seems to be a general consensus among the religious community that we are living in the last times. I have heard popular bible teaching ministries go so far as to say that our times are "the last of the last times." No matter you view it, I am sure you will agree that it is a confusing and urgent time in which to be alive.

For years moral decline and political scandal have plagued our country. We have lost the vision of our true mission. A nation so great has become apathetic and bewildered, and if you stop to think about it, it's frightening.

Jesus said, "And why beholdest thou the mote (speck) that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam (log) that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye Matthew 7:3-5.

Jesus purposely distorted this parable to prove a basic moral truth; it is impossible to help someone remove a very small speck out of their eye if you have a log in your own eye. Since you are obviously blinded by a much bigger and more emergent problem, why would you consider such a delicate task? The solution starts with the process of removing the beam out of your eye first. Then, after you have completely recovered, seek to help your brother with the small speck. (This assumes that you have no residual specks from the log that was embedded in your eye).

I am sure you all remember when the president was impeached. He destroyed his credibility by repeatedly lying, and for failing to take genuine responsibility for his own actions. Above all, he crippled the moral authority of the U.S. government to speak against the sins and injustices inflicted upon humanity by hostile godless nations. Yet, in spite of all the turmoil, God has used this situation to magnify the importance of morality, especially for leaders.

Before the impeachment vote took place, a prominent leader resigned from office. He felt that he could not lead a "crusade for morality" after the owner of a pornographic magazine revealed his adulterous escapades. Therefore, he stepped down and advised the president to do the same thing.

Excuse me sir, but how can you help your brother remove a speck from his eye when you have a beam in your own eye? Log-eyed people need to be quiet, stop throwing stones, clean the skeletons out of their closet, confess their sins to God, and seek spiritual healing. Anything less is an outrage.

I am sorry for what happened with the president, but I haven't lost any sleep over it. I had a wonderful holiday and am seeking higher heights in the coming months. I did not suggest that the president resigns or be flogged. I am too busy staying in the eye exam room of God Almighty trying to keep my vision straight. My desire is that the president learns from his mistakes, and become a more godly person. Let's face it, if God kept score, who would stand?

I want to encourage all my Christian brothers and sisters to never give in to despair. Don't think for one moment that your prayers and worship is in vain. Don't think that your holy living goes unheeded. No matter what goes on in Washington, the truth of the gospel is constant and unchanging. So we must "honestly contend for the faith", and not allow ourselves to be persuaded to believe that we cannot make a difference (see Jude 3:3).

Jesus said that we should "Take up our cross daily and follow Him" (Luke 9:23). Many Christians avoid carrying their cross because it is too heavy a burden, it causes too many conflicts and there are too many issues to deal with. Well I am here to let you know that it is not going to be that easy and simple. Every situation that we encounter because of our testimony for Jesus Christ is a cross we must carry.

Jesus dealt with political issues in His day. He was taxed unlawfully and suspected for planning to overthrow the Roman government. In one case He used money from the mouth of a fish to pay the tax fee, and in another case He explained that His kingdom was not of this world.

We cannot run away or dodge the issues by refusing to vote, or by retreating into our churches. We need to do our best to stay informed, and always be ready to give an answer to the one who ask a reason for the hope within us (see 1 Peter 3:15).

Log-eyed people are everywhere. The scandals today are not the political ones. The real tragedies are the dirt eyed Christians who criticize and destroy one another. The issues in the lives of the individuals they criticize are a mere speck in comparison to the issues in their lives. As Christians, we must be honest with ourselves, for God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. He knows where we really stand.

Removing specks take special skill and a tender touch. It requires balance and specialty experience. Above all, it requires clear unclouded vision. Can you past the eye test?