Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision (revelation), the people are unrestrained, but happy is one who keeps the Law.” (NASB)
My eye doctor will tell you I’m near sighted. I can see very clearly up close, but if I look up towards something in the distance, things go blurry. After a series of nerve-racking questions; “one or two, two or three, read the lowest line on the chart you can see,” my eye doctor can suddenly make me farsighted in 20/20 vision again.
Nearsightedness is a spiritual condition as well. Solomon reminds us in this proverb that when people do not have clear vision, revelation from God concerning His law, they throw off all restraint and just do whatever seems right to them. If we just go about doing what seems right to us and aren’t letting the Holy Spirit give us revelation from God’s Word, we’re going to look up one day feeling lost with where we are going and how we ended up where we are.
“The word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).” Apart from God’s Word, our hearts are deceptive; they can’t see clearly. God operates as an eye doctor through His Word and brings clarity in the way we should go to honor Him and have life and life to the full. When we let the doctor have His way, applying the right prescription, we can work with Jesus Christ to walk in the light and avoid darkness.