"The light of the body is the eye (Matt.
6:22). If the eye be sound and capable of receiving
the impressions that are made on it by means
of the light's reflected rays, then the whole man is
flooded with the knowledge of that which surrounds
him. He is then capable of responding in a way that
is conducive to his own welfare and happiness. But
if the eye is defective, then those things which
surround the man are distorted, and the light rays
are unable to convey to the man the correct
impression of those things which surround him,
and he walks in confusion. Likewise, if the eye is
completely defective, then he walks in
darkness.
I say to you, just as the physical
body has its eyes which are the gateways to true
knowledge of its physical environment, so also does
each man have spiritual eyes which are capable of
giving him true knowledge of his spiritual
environment. But the defectiveness of the spiritual
eye is determined by the extent to which the man is
engrossed in rebellion and in sin. If the darkness
which is about him has overcome him, it is because
his spiritual eyes have been damaged through
the corrupting influence of sin. For sin is that
form of resistance to the will and purpose of God
which causes a man to lose his spiritual
perceptiveness.
Almost all children have sound spiritual eyes
and thus a great deal of spiritual perceptiveness.
They easily respond to that spiritual environment
which is conveyed to them in one way or another. But
as they grow older, and self-will begins to play a
more dominant role; and they begin to be more aware
of and susceptible to the corrupting influences of
the world around them; and they begin to respond to
these corrupting influences, setting their will more
firmly against the spiritual influences which
formerly had a prominent effect on their
lives; and begin more and more to submit to self-
will and self-desire in opposition to the will and
desires of the heavenly Father, then do their
spiritual eyes begin to become defective and they
are not able to see clearly. Confusion and
inability to discern correctly becomes their
common lot. They no longer have the ability to
respond to that spiritual environment which
surrounds them because they are receiving distorted
impressions and are walking in various stages of
darkness.
Do not they that walk in darkness stumble and
fall, even as it is written? (John 11:10). Therefore
grief and consternation become the lot of those who
are not walking in light, but are stumbling to their
own hurt. I say to you, it is only when the
will has been dealt with, and one has come to the
place where he is willing to surrender his own
desires and commit his way to the Lord, that
the condition of the spiritual eyes is able to
improve. For the corrupting influences of sinful
self-will and desire make it impossible for
spiritual sight to be sound. But when there is true
repentance and turning to the Lord in full
confidence and surrender, then does spiritual vision
begin to clear, and the light of the Spirit is able
to convey the correct impressions that truth is able
to give.
So my people hear my word, if your spiritual
vision would be sound, and your whole life
flooded with the light of spiritual understanding
and perception, let me continue to deal with
you concerning your willingness to
receive my truth. For many there are who are willing
to receive some truth, and the light of my Spirit is
able to make that truth real to them, but then they
harden their will as they begin to perceive how
their own desires and self-interests will be
affected. They are not willing to receive more light
and understanding, and their spiritual vision
remains defective. The eyes of their understanding
are not functioning in complete soundness.
Therefore they are walking partly in light and
partly in darkness, and the light which they have is
not sufficient to lead them into that place of
complete victory in me. Their spiritual life is
hampered because there is no complete soundness in
their spiritual vision.
Will you not hear my people, and pray
that your own desires will be so completely
yielded to me; your own will so
completely under my control that nothing shall keep
you from going on in my truth. Consider not that
which will result in the eyes of men; neither
how what you believe will affect those around you,
but keep your heart and your attention centered
on me, for I will not let anything happen to
you that is not for your own good, but
I will surely keep you in that which will bring
you forth in my perfect image and likeness.
Fear not, I say, for fear of what men may think is
that which robs you of receiving the continuous
light and revelation of my Spirit. For fearing for
your own reputation in the sight of men,
you do give more consideration to your
own desires and your own flesh than to the
love of your God, and in doing so you
do set your will against His further
light and truth. Therefore your spiritual
vision remains unsound and your light is
turned to
darkness."