Introduction
‘For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is near-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.’ 2 Peter 1:5-9
The health of our eyes is tremendously important that we tend to visit the Ophthalmologist / optician at the slightest discomfort or suspicion of eye problems. This is exactly the recommendation of the Apostle Peter in the above text. ‘…but whoever does not have them is near-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins’, verse 9.
Near-sightedness is the inability to see afar off. This is synonymous with short-sightedness. Most importantly, the pertinent question here is this: what does the pronoun ‘them’ in this verse refer to? Answering this question is the key to the wellbeing of our spiritual eyes.
In the preceding verse, Peter says: ‘For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure…….’ ‘These qualities’ in verse 8 are in reference to the list of additives in verses 5 to 7 which include faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love.
These virtues which are referred to, by some Bible scholars as ‘the Christian graces’ are the qualities that Peter talks about in verse 9, using the pronoun ‘them’.
Basically, Peter is saying that if any one lacks these qualities in his / her Christian life, such a one might need to have his spiritual eyes checked or may need to have his glasses replaced!
These are not too different from whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy which Paul asked the Philippians to think about.
As Christians, our lives must be adorned by the above listed qualities so that we may not become spiritually blind or short–sighted. We need to always see the bigger picture.
We need to be proactive as we live godly lives for which we have been equipped. Let us examine our lives to see if any of these is missing and take immediate measures to fill up.
‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.’ Philippians 4:8-9
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us like You. Help us to imbibe the qualities that define the Christian character so that the people of this world may read Christ in the epistles of our lives.
