CHAPTER 13: THE DAY HE OPENED MY EYES 2024
I had fallen ill many, many years ago. I opened my eyes and I was afraid to blink, afraid they would never open again. I was sick, very sick and every stupid thing I’d ever done went through my mind. I abused the rules, lived hard and fast. A manic life, incredible opportunities, potential in every step, all of it was heading for fame and fortune baby, I never slept and it finally got me.
Psalm 107:17-18
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
I was alone on the ground and far away from anybody who could help me. I prayed. Period. And I hadn’t done that for years. Each breath could be the last, exhaustion had taken over and tunnel vision was happening, it was harder to breath and I could hear my heart slowing down. I knew living may not be an option anymore.
“God, I don’t know what to do. I’ve never known what to do, show me what to do every day from this moment on and I’ll do it. Whatever you’ve given me, use it and let me live…”
Psalm 107:19
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
From that moment until right now, I have kept my promise and stayed the course. Never easy, lots of bumps in the road, misunderstandings, challenges, heart ache, a sinner, unworthy, the Word, Jesus — all part of it a different life, all uncharted by me.
John 16:33
New International Version
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Life gets better with Jesus. A spiritual foundation that affects the first day and a day becomes a week and so on and so forth. Yearning for the Word, prayer is a gift rarely used unless in terror conditions. The hard part is realizing the life I wasted and what could’ve been. And then there is the Word.
Deuteronomy 30:3-13
3 God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered.
I call that “Illusive Gain.” Like a dividend it pays me everyday, the pain of remembering, and that keeps me from wanting to do stupid again.
The Yield of God is I open my eyes everyday. Yea, think about that for a second. “I open my eyes everyday.” Big plus, I get another chance to be better. What I wanted prior to Jesus was ridiculous, nothing more than a clown suit. “Important, money, prestige,” it is unobtainable, even if you have it, you’ve already lost. A slave servant to vanity.
Ecclesiastes 4:4
New International Version
4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
You know, in this election year, a joke came to my mind. I probably learned it from either flight school or Billy Graham, I can’t recall which, but it goes like this. Oh yea, this applies to living life without Jesus. An airplane was flying along when one of the engines just up and quit, well it had four engines, people were afraid but there were more engines, until two more went out, leaving only one engine left. Well suddenly the cockpit cabin door flew open and there was the pilot stepping through with a parachute tied onto his back and he said: “Don’t worry everybody, all will be fine, I’m going for help!” That’s the way I feel watching all this politicking in our beloved America. Well, it’s like that with the God. Without the Lord nobody’s got a parachute, the devil bails out and leaves me hangin and it costs me my life…
Revelation 2:11
New King James Version
11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’
I didn’t know what that meant on the first day, or the second day. It was a long time before I knew, and now I know. The White Throne judgement, the day Satan loses completely. Until then, Chapter 13, to help me understand the great commission we are all called to do.
Matthew 28:18-20 New King James Version
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo,
I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
John 3:5-8
New King James Version
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
There it is, born again. What does that mean? As I lay there on the ground that day, as the last word of prayer barely made it out of my mouth, I wasn’t on the ground, I stood, completely myself and in good order, what is this power? I said, Amen and there I was then and here I am today, so many years later, my voice is strong in testimony and the Words the Lord has given. Born again, in Jesus. My life? Nothing I’d ever imagined, a long line of learning — testing — rehabilitating, reading the Bible when I didn’t know what it meant, praying when I don’t know how.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18
English Standard Version
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
Fame and glory, money, property and prestige, it’ll always be there, it’s just not as sparkly as it once was, to me. I have felt the pull of temptation on the path in front of me, and I’m sure not the last of it. One of those challenging days I’d found myself on a slippery slope, I’d been there before, it was familiar to me. A voice came into my mind. It was loud — as if some was actually speaking in my head.
“I did not prepare you for this.”
I heard it three times and I listened to it. My eyes open before a free-fall off the proverbial cliff.
Psalm 32:8
New International Version
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
With Jesus from day one, my eyes could see what isn’t good, more importantly my ears could hear the scripture. And the scripture means more every year.
Titus 2:11-12 New International Version (NIV)
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
No, is a complete sentence. Understand what is given in talent — use it only for the work of Heaven, always in the name and honor of Him.
Romans 11:29
English Standard Version
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
The roadblock of chapter 13 is deceit, foolishness, lack of knowledge, stubbornness, arrogance, haughty and stupid. If I go back, I’m lost and although I fumble all the time, I don’t want to.
I’ve seen folks fail their promise. Doesn’t work out.., dangerous curves ahead.
Hosea 4:6
King James Version
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Yea, great idea, not. Rather, choose to see and experience a magnificent choreography in God’s training, the power given of the Holy Spirit to be used as was designed for you before time itself.
Habakkuk 2:3 English Standard Version
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
——-The book says the road is narrow. My grandma said the road to perdition is a freeway. Funny the things we remember?
Matthew 7:13-14
New International Version
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 12:33 New International Version (NIV).
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
I’ve thought about that day for many years, I can assure you, He does not lie. Even in my promise, I’ve stumbled, fallen and gotten back up in the strength and courage than can only be found in a God who is present. He kept His end of the deal, and I have tried to keep my promise and even in my failures He allows me to continue in His grace .., to try again.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Make no mistake, I made a deal with God, thank God it was God, truly. I caution all of us, this world offers many deals, be very careful where you sign your name and who you strike a deal with. In our ignorance we do terrible things, stupid things, costly, damaging things.
Chapter 13, The Day He Opened My Eyes. You see, my friends, like I said, my eyes were always open, there was just way more to see.
Isaiah 41:9-10
New International Version
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Now, what are you going to do? Amen.
