It’s been said that the eyes are a window into our soul. These windows connect the material world around us with our hearts and what our hearts desire. Lust, greed and pride in our hearts find their way into the world via our eyes. So where should we start in an effort to address the problem with lust, greed and pride? Is it an eye problem or a heart problem? Do we start with our eyes or do we follow a deeper and complex path into our hearts?
At times we need to say “no” to what our eyes want to look at—beauty I want to have, fame that props my perceived identity up, things I must have to give me a sense of being alive, or that social media feed or wall that any of us could become addicted to—in order to clear the path into our heart.
At times we need to say “no” to what our eyes want to look at while examining the motives that drive our hearts in that moment—and hopefully shift the objects we treasure to the life-giving Christ who promises abundant life here in the now and through eternity.
And then there are times when our windows—eyes—are clear and we see the world around us through godly filters, like the ones the Apostle mentions in Philippians 4:8-9:
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
So, whether or not your eyes are seeing the material world through godly filters, here is where we need to start or land on:
“My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.”
This is the verse God used a couple of weeks ago to speak to me. It was so encouraging! What God ultimately desires is not an external behavior by which I manage the restrain of my eyes to prevent my heart from lusting, being greedy or leaning on pride. God wants my heart, and so He tenderly says to me, says to you: “give me your heart” first, then your eyes will follow “my ways”.
What are you looking at? Are your filters godly? Does Jesus have your heart?
—Diego Cuartas
