p. 12 | DEFECTIVE SIGHT by Luella L. Harmon

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 17, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 40.

DEFECTIVE SIGHT.

By Luella L. Harmon

MANY people have defective sight. We speak of them as being near-sighted or far-sighted, while many are blind and see not at all. Some of these may correct the defect in the organs of vision by wearing spectacles.

In our Christian experience, many of us have defective sight, but are not aware of it, until we go to the great Physician, to be shown our defects, where some of us learn that we are so very near-sighted that we do not see farther than self; we do not see even the Physician. Others are able to see but their household, while some see as far as their neighbors.

All we who are near-sighted need to apply more of the love of this Physician, that we may see the precious souls far away. If, after a few applications, we find that we see as far as the coasts of our own country, let us not cease its use, but keep calling on the great Physician for more love until we see the souls way across the waters, clear into the hearts of Africa, China, India, and all the heathen lands. O, His love is a wonderful remedy. It heals every affliction; it is the true love that never fails us.

There are also those who are far-sighted and fail to see the home needs. Perhaps those who should be loved ones in our homes—so often an aged father or mother—are in need of our care and attention, or may be out in the enemy’s fold. Or neighbors may be perishing all around us without knowing the dear Father and His blessed Word.

But a short distance away there may be precious souls going down to perdition because no one points them to the path that leads upward unto eternal life, while the far-sighted one sits and mourns for an opportunity to go to some far distant country or large metropolis.

For this far-sightedness we must apply the same love, for we should never think of distant fields when we can not see precious souls close by. If we should cross the ocean without first having the love applied, we would be far-sighted when on the other side; the souls there would not appeal to us, and we would be looking, as Lot’s wife did, toward home. Love, more love for the far-sighted. It will enable us to see things near and far away; to give ourselves and all that we have for every precious soul.

Saddest of all is the misfortune of those who sit at ease in Zion, feeling satisfied with self and the condition of all the world; seeing nothing to do, no souls to save, nor heeding the pleas for help from those who do see. Calls come from near and far, from every quarter of the globe. To these souls, also, the great Physician offers the eyesalve and calls for them to anoint their eyes that they, too, may see. Unless it be applied freely now, and the scales fall from the eyes, these blind ones will never see into the city where the Redeemer is preparing mansions for all who accept and are healed by His wonderful love.

MRS. LUELLA L. HARMON. Flint, Mich.