Shortsighted, Blind, and Have Forgotten
On September 11, 2001, the United States faced an act of terrorism in its history. Two Boeing 767 passenger airplanes struck both World Trade Center towers (WTC), causing both towers to come crashing down. A third airline plane crashed into the Pentagon, which serves as the headquarters for the US Department of Defense, and the fourth plane crashed in a rural Pennsylvania field due to a passenger revolt. This contributed to thousands of casualties, deaths, and millions left mourning the loss of loved ones. Out of remembrance, this day was called 9/11.
Almost 25 years later, this day serves as a memorial for the countless lives lost. A notable quote that is often repeated to remember this day is “never forget”. The attacks on the WTC brought such a conviction over this country that America mobilized and took actions against terrorism; these actions were so severe that they have lasting effects today. But as 9/11 marks a memorial to America, what memories of your past have left you convicted on what the Lord brought you through? In 2 Peter 1:5-11, the speaker, Peter, discusses the progression of our faith. But notice the contrasting words in verse 9.
(2 Peter 1:5-11 NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The term “shortsighted” is Strong’s 3467 muópazó, meaning near-sighted, unable to see afar off. “Blindness” is Strong’s 5185 tuphlos, meaning blind physically or mentally. “Has forgotten” is Strong’s 3024 léthé, meaning to become forgetful or to forget. Peter describes the spiritual conditions of the stagnant believer who no longer actively grows in their faith. According to the Topical Lexicon, near-sightedness is akin to only focusing on the things of this world. This causes the believer to forget the bigger picture, which is their eternity. They become inundated with the cares of their time here on earth, slowly dwindling into spiritual blindness. Blindness is the state of no longer seeing one’s dependence upon the Lord. Ultimately, they are distracted from the tasks the Lord has assigned for them. Their spiritual eyes are eventually darkened, no longer sensing the Lord’s presence or conviction. Eventually leaving the believer in the state of forgetfulness, or according to the Topical Lexicon, “spiritual amnesia”. The believer no longer acknowledges the Lord, causing Him to become a distant afterthought in the back of the believer’s mind.
These spiritual conditions within the believer result in stagnancy and leave the believer to forget what the Lord has done in their lives. We see this illustrated with the Children of Israel going into the Promised Land after spending 40 years wandering in the wilderness. In Deuteronomy 6:10-12, the Lord commands the Israelites “not to forget the Lord their God”. This was the Lord’s command to His people. He knew they would forget Him, but because the Lord is so gracious and merciful, He still gave the command so they would have the choice in obeying His word. In verse 10, Apostle Peter writes, “be ever more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble”.
The Lord is calling us to remember Him. What has the Lord delivered you from? Are there areas in your life where you have grown shortsighted, blind, or even forgetful of what the Lord has done? Just as America remembers the grievous day her borders were invaded and blood was shed, let us do as 2 Peter 1:5 says, remember the Lord our God, and“give all diligence to add to our faith”. I will leave you with this.
(Due 6:10-12)
10 So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full 12 then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Go in peace and do not forget the Lord your God.