“I was reading in Luke’s gospel earlier this morning,” Stan commented, “and I was reminded of something I experienced a few years ago before we moved here.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“In a single verse,” Stan replied, “Luke quotes Jesus as asking about how a blind man can lead a blind man.”
“I think I remember that,” I said. “Didn’t Jesus say they would both fall into a pit, or something like that?”
“He did,” Stan replied. “And that’s what I was reminded about with a neighbor back in our old town.”
“Was he blind?” I asked.
“Let me tell you his story,” Stan said. “He had been ordained as a pastor or minister in one of the mainline denominations. I don’t remember which one. He had been in that role for several years as the leader of a local church when he realized he was one of those people Jesus was talking about?”
“In what way?”
“That he was part of the blind leading the blind.”
“How so?”
“He said he realized he was in a role where he was supposed to lead people into faith and help them into a deeper faith, but he couldn’t because he wasn’t a Christian himself.”
“Wasn’t a Christian himself?” I responded. “A minister? Did he say how he came to realize that?”
“He did,” Stan replied. “He said that one Sunday after the service, one of the members of the congregation took him aside and asked him about his faith.”
“One of the members asked the pastor about his faith?” I said. “You must be kidding!”
“That’s what he said,” Stan replied, “And he also said that those questions led him to examine what he knew and what he believed. And that led him to becoming a Christian who was able to lead that congregation into the kind of faith and faith walk that God intended.”
‘Wow!” I said. “All because someone recognized and pointed out one person’s blindness, that person was no longer blind and could lead others. That sounds kind of like somethingI that might be good for all of us!”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Stan replied with a smile.
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Bible verses to consider:
And He spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?” Luke 6:39.
They are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit. Matthew 15:14.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you sent your only begotten Son into the world to give us sight so we would see you and your provision of life eternally with you. Thank you, too, for the sight into knowing you and Jesus that is available for as long as you keep us on this side of eternity. Thank you that I am no longer blind to the truth. I confess that too often I do not seek to help other people see the truth so they can accept it and see you. Please forgive me, and please help me follow every step of your lead so that I, who am no longer blind, can and will help others to have the sight you intend for them. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted the truth of the gospel so that you are no longer blind to God and know you will spend eternity in His presence when it’s time? If no, why have you not accepted His free and gracious provision? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, are you sharing your sight with those who are still blind to the truth so they, too, can see? If you sense the need for change, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 