"THE OPENING OF THE EYES: A CONTRAST"

Two had their eyes opened in a garden. Two had their eyes opened on a road. Once their eyes were opened, what each pair saw differed greatly. Two were ashamed of themselves by what they saw. Two were elated by what they saw. Two saw because they disobeyed. Two saw because of Scripture. Two saw their sin. Two saw the Lord. The first pair were Adam and Eve, while in Eden (Gen. 3). The second pair were those walking to Emmaus (Lk. 24)

It is good for our eyes to distinguish between right and wrong. There are two ways this can happen. Both scenarios are depicted in Adam and Eve, and the two traveling to Emmaus. Of Adam and Eve we read, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Gen. 3:7).

We must recognize why Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened. It happened because they disobeyed a command from God. When we disobey, our eyes will be opened, but what we 'see' does not bring joy. There is nothing but shame and fear, as with Adam and Eve.

When we disobey, we also gain knowledge. But what we learn does not make us rejoice; it makes us hang our heads in shame. Rather than being drawn to God, we attempt a futile thing: To hide from God as Adam did (Gen. 3:10). God asked Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” How did Adam learn of his nakedness? From God? Did Adam not know he was naked before God asked him? Who was to blame? Satan? No, for Satan only spoke a lie (“Thou shalt not die.”), tempting Adam.

“Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jms. 1:14-15). Who allowed lust to conceive? Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed Satan.

Whose word was transgressed and whose word was obeyed? Whose words were perverted and whose words were believed? The answers are obvious. Paul wrote, “Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Rom. 6:16).

Disobedience brings shame and fear into our lives. Both are removed when we turn to God in obedience. When we obey God, there is no need for blaming; rather, for the giving of thanks. We see this from Paul’s epistle to the church of Christ in Rome: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, they became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17-18). The giving of thanks is natural when there is joy in the heart.

Let God’s word, not our sin, open our eyes. The view is much better. The joy in our lives is a lighter yoke to bear than the yoke of guilt and grief because of our sin. As the two on the road to Emmaus did, we will want to share the good news with others from a good and honest heart. By this, God will be glorified.