“For this people’s heart has become calloused. They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” Matthew 13:15,16

Ever had trouble seeing or hearing? Visual and auditory acuity can slip away from us and we can miscalculate, misunderstand, and just plain miss what just happened faster than we think. What we process may not be fully accurate. It’s humbling and happens more than we think. 

Steph Curry understands this. Did you catch that he wears contacts now? It started this past season. Arguably the greatest shooter of all time needed help seeing the basket. One would think Curry clearly had no need … but he did! Good is always the enemy of the best. 

Others discover that their hearing needs help. (My great wife Kelly jokes that I do sometimes.) Hearing aid and corrective lens technologies sure have come a long way. I’m glad. You too?

Here is a bigger takeaway … Our seeing or hearing problems may not be due to deterioration of the eyes or ears. The problem may be the heart. The Bible says that our best seeing and hearing is done with our hearts (Matthew 13:15). Jesus makes this clear. 

If the heart is right, our understanding of what we see and hear in ourselves, others and this world is accurate, on target. But if the heart is calloused and cold, rebellious or indifferent toward God, how we see, hear, and experience life will be blurry, muffled, unclear, misinterpreted, misunderstood (See Matthew 13:14). It’s a fact. God says so. 

So if you want to know if you’re seeing straight or hearing well, check your heart. If it’s good before God (not hiding, running, but soft, tender, trusting Him) you’ll process life well. 

If your heart is red-hot rebellious or stone cold indifferent to Him, your processing of everything in and around you will be off. You’ve become a good candidate for heart surgery. It’s that simple. 

Reflect:

• How would you describe your current heart condition?
• What life issue concerns you most right now? Are you seeing it straight? Closing your eyes to anything? Getting the right input, perspective?
• Who can help you size up your need for any heart surgery? (God used Ezekiel to help Israel. Who can help you?)
• Why not make a move to memorize Proverbs 4:23 and recite it often to yourself? It will be great for your eyes, ears and heart health.

A prayer to consider: LORD, thank You for showing me that the key to my seeing straight and hearing right starts with my heart. I want a heart that’s always tender toward You, not cold or calloused or running hot toward rebellion. 

Help me tune out the influence of others that would get my heart infected, eyes closed and ears stopped up from sensing all that I should. Grant me the courage to face Your heart surgery whenever necessary. I want my heart to be Christ’s home. For Your glory and my joy and health in life. Amen.