Greetings, in Christ,
Blind man’s bluff—how many remember the game? Maybe it was before your time and you may not be aware of the game. It was a game where one person was to be blind folded, run towards people trying to tag them so they would be the one who was blind folded. The game could be played for hours on end, that is, if it was played safely. The game is designed to be played in an open area where no obstacles could present a trip hazard for the blind folded person as they chased other people playing the game. Now it was not easy to do being the blind folded person. Someone eventually fell over something and they got hurt and it was the end of the game, but it was fun as long it lasted.
I can remember being blind folded walking to touch someone. I remember walking slowly, but when I heard a voice I tried to move quickly to tag the person. I remember tripping over obstacles while in the pursuit and falling only to get back up to try again. I had to trust the other people in the game not to bring harm or put things in the way in the pursuit to tag them. I do remember one individual who did this, and I did not want to play the game with them again. My trust in them disappeared. Without the trust I did not feel safe with this person playing the game.
Playing the game of blind man’s bluff requires the trust of the other players to make the game safe and fun. It is the basis of the game for it to be successful. It is like walking in faith with God. It is trust which makes it successful.
We must put on the blind fold for our trust In God to work. It is putting on the blind fold to this world can we look beyond this world into God’s world. Our sight becomes possible through the trust we have in God while we are blind folded to this world.
We too often want to take off the blind fold and trust our own thoughts and the things we see before us. We too often want to rely on the material things in life we can see, touch, and feel. We get tripped up in the pursuit of those things and by those things we can see.
For us to make it in this world we must put on the blind fold and trust God to lead us in the direction which is safe from all harm. We must trust God not to let anything be in our path which will cause us harm. We must trust God not to put anything in our way to trip us up. We may never hear God’s voice while we put on the blind fold, but it is in our trusting God will be there to guide us through the things of life. On the occasion when we do hear God’s voice, we must not hesitate to move quickly to be near Him or to obey His wishes.
Paul attributes Abraham for doing just this in writing to the Romans. “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
May our faith in God as we walk blind folded to the world be our righteousness.
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” Psalms 145:18
“The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me? Psalms 118:6
“Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.” Psalms 118:19
“Thou art my God, and I give thanks to Thee; Thou art my God, I extol Thee.” Psalms 118:28
Lord help us to be faithful in our walk with You, and may our faith be our righteousness. Amen
Blessings,
Mark Johnson
Psalm 118,145; 1 Samuel 10:1-16; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 21:23-32