Why Some People Can’t See the Truth of the Gospel
Have you ever wondered why some people just don’t “get it” when it comes to the message of Jesus, no matter how clearly it’s explained? The Bible calls this “spiritual blindness.” Let’s break down what that means in everyday language.
What Is Spiritual Blindness?
Spiritual blindness isn’t about not being able to see with your eyes. Instead, it’s about not being able to understand or accept spiritual truths—specifically, the good news about Jesus. Imagine trying to read with a thick blindfold over your eyes: you know the words are on the page, but you can’t make them out. Spiritual blindness is like having a blindfold on your mind and heart, making it hard to see or grasp God’s message.
Spiritual vs. Physical Blindness
It’s important to know that when we say someone is spiritually blind, we’re using a metaphor. Just as physical blindness keeps people from seeing the world around them, spiritual blindness keeps people from seeing the truth about God—even if their eyes work perfectly.
Who Causes Spiritual Blindness?
The Bible teaches that Satan, called the “god of this world” in 2 Corinthians 4:4, is actively involved in keeping people spiritually blind. He “puts a veil” over their minds to block them from seeing how good and powerful the message of Jesus really is. His goal is to prevent people from understanding that Jesus is the way to be saved and made right with God.
The Veil Analogy
Think of a thick curtain or veil that blocks out all light. As long as the veil is in place, you stay in darkness. The Bible uses this picture to show how some people are kept from seeing the light of the gospel. But here’s the good news: when someone turns to Jesus, the “veil” is lifted, and they can finally see things clearly.
What Happens When Someone Is Spiritually Blind?
People who are spiritually blind might hear about Jesus many times. They might even know the stories and teachings. But it doesn’t “click”—they don’t see why it matters or how it relates to them. They can’t recognize their own need for forgiveness or don’t feel the message of Jesus applies to their lives. They might even be very religious or know a lot about the Bible, but still miss the main point: who Jesus really is and what He came to do.
Examples in the Bible
Even in Jesus’ time, there were religious leaders—people who studied the Scriptures every day—who didn’t recognize Him as the Messiah. Despite seeing miracles and hearing Jesus’ teachings, they couldn’t accept Him. This shows that knowing a lot about religion isn’t the same as truly seeing and understanding spiritual truth.
How Can Spiritual Blindness Be Removed?
The Bible says that only God can open someone’s spiritual eyes. That’s why prayer is so important—asking God to help friends and family see the truth about Jesus. When God works in someone’s heart, the “blindfold” comes off. Suddenly, the gospel makes sense, and people can respond with faith.
Bible Verses:
· 2 Corinthians 4:4: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”
· John 12:40: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”
In summary, spiritual blindness is a real barrier to understanding the good news about Jesus. The Bible encourages us to pray for others, asking God to remove the veil and help them see the truth for themselves.
Minister A Francine Green
afrancinegreen.com 