Coffee Stains: If It Had Been a Snake, It Would Have Bit Me

I’ve been ‘awareness-challenged’ most of my life. For instance, mama would send me to look for something and I would look everywhere without finding it when finally she would point it out to me, right under my nose. ‘If it had been a snake it would have bitten you,’ she would opine. ‘Thanks mama. I needed that encouragement.’ With age, things seem to get worse.

I notice buildings going up as we travel somewhere but my wife assures me that workers have been working on it for months and I just haven’t noticed it. I still look for things that are right in front of me and it seems that since I’ve begun to wear glasses all the time, I’m even less aware. ‘If it had been a snake it would have bitten you!’ Thanks dear, I needed that. My theory is that when you’re concentrating so hard on solving the great problems of the world, it’s hard to pay attention to minor details of life around you. Or something …

Sometimes though, I wonder if there aren’t a lot of ‘awareness-challenged’ people around me. These folks say that they see no evidence for God. What! For those who are aware, it’s really no challenge to see God. Heaven and earth declare His existence! Lord Kelvin, a noted British scientist asserted, “If you study science deep enough and long enough it will force you to believe in God.” Of course if you don’t want to believe, all you have to do is squeeze your eyes shut and clamp your hands over your ears. Atheist Richard Dawkins says in his book, The Blind Watchmaker, “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.” Huh? I think mama would say, ‘If it had been a snake it would have bitten you, Mr. Dawkins.’

A blind man cried out to Jesus one day as the Lord passed near him, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.” They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.” In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road. (Mark 10:, 50, The Message) The blind man didn’t say to Him, ‘I know it seems like you’re here Jesus but this is just a natural process set in action by forces unleashed–we’re not sure yet how–billions of years ago and blah, blah, blah.” He just wanted to see and He believed that Jesus could do something about it.

So many people think, ‘If it’s all true about God and His Son Jesus, why didn’t God reveal himself more clearly?’ Could it be that God has revealed Himself very clearly in the creation, in His Word, by His Spirit and in His Son Jesus? Maybe instead of praying, ‘Lord, reveal yourself!’  We ought to pray, ‘Lord, open my eyes so that I can see! I’m ”awareness-challenged’” That’s what this man did. And those blind eyes opened and he saw–and followed Jesus with his whole heart!

Are questions, doubts, and anxiety blurring your vision? Cry out to Jesus so that you can see the truth right in front of you. If it was a snake it would bite you.

Hmmm …

Change does not come until someone gets mad. Those trying to bring change will make mad those who do not want change. ~Myles Monroe~