Guard the Gates: Eye Gates

 In our walk with God, it is essential that we take care to guard what we bring into our spirit. There is a saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul. If this is indeed true, then surly whatever is taken in by the eyes would affect the well being of the soul. I would like to talk a little bit about the eye and ear gates and why it is important for us to be careful as to what we allow to pass through.

In Matthew 6:22-23, Yeshua says that the eye is the lamp of the body and that if the eyes are good (sound) the whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad (evil) your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Psalms 119:37 The writer is telling he Lord to turn their eyes away from worthless things. They then go on to request that the Lord revive them in His ways.

If taking in worthless rubbish through your eyes is not something to even concern oneself with, then why go to God with this request? Why would Jesus even take time to explain the role that one’s eyes have? What does it matter whether we are looking at something wholesome or evil either in the spirit or the natural?

Let’s face it. We humans are influenced by our surroundings. We are sponges, so to speak. And we are soaking up all the information that we set our ears and eyes on. The things that we hear and see daily truly affects the way we live. In turn, we become desensitized by the wickedness of this world if we are not selective of what we allow into our beings. When we are not on guard, the things that we do not want in our lives start to creep in and take up space. Even when we are on the look out, we can be unaware of just how much room we give the enemy into our lives.

Now back to these eyes. Why do we need to guard them?
I truly believe that the Lord tells us that the eye is the lamp of the body because He understands that what we set our sights on will eventually be what we go after. At times we desire to be what we are focused on. In other words, what we study and focus on will seep down into the deeper parts of us, we begin to crave it and then we follow though with action to acquire what our eyes are dead set on.

Let’s take a look at Genesis 3: 1-7 (NIV translation)

1. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2. The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3. but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ “ 4. “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6. Then when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

When Eve studied this fruit and took in consideration what the devil was telling her, her eyes were no longer focused on the things of God. Her mind and her heart were no longer concerned with what God was concerned with, but her focus shifted toward her desire, her own lust, for gaining wisdom and knowledge by means other than the Almighty Himself. When she rejected God’s Word, she rejected light, life and truth. In doing so, she brought her attention to darkness, death and lies (although it did not appear to be that way!). This is how sin enters into our lives.

1 John 2:15-17 states “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-- comes not from the Father, but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

We see it daily. Images flash in front of our eyes on repeat. The only way to be happy in this world is by riches, self gratification and prestige. We see this so much that we begin to believe that if only we had the new car, better position, new house or new relationship our lives would be complete. That we have some how “arrived” when we possess this. Please understand what I am saying. Having nice things and money is not bad; however, if these worldly concerns are primary focus and you are chasing after them, then you have made an idol of the world and its desires. It is not God who is the Lord of your heart or life, but the world.

Remember what Jesus said. If your eye is good your whole body is filled with light but if your eye is evil, your body is filled with darkness. If we are concentrating and setting our eyes on the cares of this world, then our body, our hearts and our minds, are filled with the dark desires of this world. We are becoming what we are setting our sights on. In essence, we are of the world. Those who are of the world will pass away along with the world. In contrast, if we set our eyes, hearts and minds on the ways and concerns of God, we become filled with His light and we are of Him.

Today, I pray that if there is anything that is drawing your eyes away from the Lord, that you will be encouraged to repent of it and turn towards Yeshua. Even as I write this and do this study with you all, I see that there have been times when my mind was set on the cares of the world. I remember when my relationship was a distraction from God. I started to look toward my significant other for fulfillment in my life. But let me tell you; once I started seeking God and reconnecting with Him, the things that once bothered me to my core do not feel as bad. Yes, sometimes I do get bothered, but that pain is no longer the center of my life, living for Yeshua is. I want to get to a place where I have eyes ONLY for God and His ways. And this is what I want for you as well.

The world offers so many distractions meant to keep you away from the Truth. The more we fill our vision with these distractions, the more we buy into the lie. The world (and its ruler) want you to doubt God and His Word. And who exactly is God. He is our Redeemer, our Deliverer, Savior, Counselor, Provider and so much more. Jesus said to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things (shelter, food, clothing, provision) will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33 WMB). Keep looking towards God and drawing towards His Spirit. Fill your eyes with His light and do not be blinded by this world’s darkness. I pray that you lean and depend on the Holy Spirit and that He will fill you continually as you set your eyes on the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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