***Below is an adaption of a devotion that our Youth Director, Ryan Vincent, gave on September 27th, 2019 for the Naomi Luncheon. This seems appropriate as we begin to have some extra time on our hands for some much needed self-reflection.***
Please read beforehand: Matt 6:19-34
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”
Our denominational campground’s name is Bonclarken. Have you ever thought about that word? Do you know what Bonclarken means? It’s a combination of three words. (1) Bon from the Latin, Bonus meaning ‘Good,’ (2) clar from the Latin Clarus meaning ‘Clear’ and (3) ken from the Scotch meaning ‘vision.’ Good-Clear-Vision. Upon discovering this meaning for the first time several years ago, I can’t help but consider the goodness of the Lord every time I pull into Bonclarken. When I see the sign for Bonclarken, I am reminded to take my eyes off myself and to turn them even more fervently on Jesus. How clear is your vision of Jesus? Is your spiritual vision of Christ blocked by other distractions or even yourself?
Let’s look at a few verses in the Bible. The first section of this scripture is about your treasures, the second is about anxiety. These two texts don’t seem like they should flow into each other because of their subtitles, but they do. They’re actually a portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It’s the old cliche adage “when you see a therefore in Scripture, you must ask what it is there for.” Verse 25 draws us back to verses 19-24. It says that what is next will speak with regards to those verses before. What is next, and what is before?
Vs. 22 - the eye is the lamp of the body, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
Vs. 23 - if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness
Vs. 26 - look at the birds ---
Vs. 28 - consider the lilies ---
The idea of “look” or “see” in the Bible typically references our focus and our attention. In other words, what has the attention of our heart? What are we focused on? What are we looking at? This happens to the Psalmist in Psalm 73. As he looks at and sees the prosperity of the wicked, he begins this envious, anxious and bitter cycle that seems to snowball downhill. What took his attention? It certainly wasn’t on the Lord and His provisions and promises. It wasn’t until v. 17 when he goes to the temple, when his vision is cast onto God, that he begins to see things clearly. He began to discern (there goes this idea of considering deeply, of looking and seeing) their end. The word translated “discerned” here in verse 17 has also been used to translate in other parts of Scripture “look carefully, observe/observed, or gazed.” Paul speaks of this in Col 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Setting your minds means to focus on, consider deeply, observe intently.
If your eye is healthy (or pure or clear), then the whole body is healthy. This even includes your anxiety. When you are feeling anxious, I challenge you to look toward God. Look to the Scriptures, look at the birds and the lilies. See where He cares for even them. You were made in His image. He will provide for you. When you feel anxious, check your vision. Ask yourself, what am I looking at? If it’s on yourself or others around you, then you’re looking at the wrong thing, and it’s no wonder a feeling of anxiousness creeps in. We have a need-supplying Father. Trust in Him and in His goodness. In this time of separation from the physical body of Christ, we need to see what has our attention and what has our focus. We all need Bonclarken. We all need good clear vision.
With love,
Ryan