That the Work of God Might Be Displayed

As he went along, [Jesus] saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:1–3, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Don’t automatically look for sin to blame for affliction or misfortune. It is not always the case. This text was my late wife Eileen’s life text. Blindness (at age 25) was just one of the many afflictions she endured with grace, determination and dignity. But most of all with trust in her God, that His work was being displayed in her life. As many of her family, friends and acquaintances will testify. Not least of all me. She was definitely the better half of our marriage as now that she has gone home, I feel less than half.

Some might cry foul, or unfair. Whie she may have had her moments of weakness and self-pity, for the most part she did not. For she knew that “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for [His] sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29, NIV 1984). And if I may, I would add health to this list.

My Advice – “Naked [we come] from [our] mother’s womb, and naked [we] will depart. The Lord [gives] and the Lord [gives] away; may the name of the Lord be praised. [Afterall], shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 1:21 and 2:10, NIV 1984). Not everyone responds to adversity with this kind of attitude. Likely no one does so consistently.

But once we are certain that the adversity is not the result of unrepentant sin in our life, we should “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever [we] face trials of many kinds, because [we] know that the testing of [our] faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that [we] may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2–4, NIV 1984).

Today, I know, that Eileen lacks nothing and is experiencing pure joy in the presence of the Lord. And “that the work of God [continues to] be displayed in [the memory of her] life.” For she was once blind, but now she can really see. We look forward to the same joy if we persevere.