I have never been a good poker player or a good liar.  My grandmother said my eyes always gave me away.  I didn’t like that when I was holding a straight flush or trying to deceive my parents.  Now that I am all grown up and living a life for Christ, I am glad my eyes give me away.

We have all heard the saying, “The eyes are the windows to the soul”.  I believe that to some extent.  I can look into the eyes of my 3 year-old and see love, hurt, tiredness and grumpiness.  I can see joy when she dances for Jesus and I see peace as she prays. On the other hand, I have looked people I trusted square in the eyes as they lied to me and I believed their lies.  How can this be?  How can you see the honesty of one and not see the dishonesty of another?  Simple, “window coverings”.

While the eyes may be the window to the soul, it is the heart that actually does the seeing and revealing.  The eyes are merely the tool that the heart uses to see the world and to show the world one’s heart and soul.  Just as a pan is the tool that the heat of a stove uses to fry an egg.

Some people will always see the rain, while others see the rainbow.  Many always see how big the “mountain” is, while others see the joy in the journey.  Job 2:10b “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (NKJV)

As we go through life people hurt us, deceive us, betray us and abandon us.   The more hurt and heartache that comes our way, the more protective we become of our hearts.  To protect our hearts, we put up walls, blinds and curtains to keep others from seeing our hurt, our sin and our pain.  Bitterness, criticism and distrust become the “curtains” that cover our eyes.  Our hearts become so dark from all the “window coverings” that we can no longer see the Son; the Light of the World.

Once our hearts become so dark, then our tongues begin to speak darkness.  Matthew 12:34b “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (NKJV)  It creates a vicious cycle that only God can change.   God can and will change our hearts and He can make the words of our mouth pleasing to Him.  However, we must do our part.

We all have hurts and I would never suggest that we blindly trust in anything other than the Lord.  When we find ourselves hurt and our hearts becoming darkened by the “curtains” of life, I encourage us all to seek the Lord.  Ask for forgiveness, grant forgiveness and seek the discernment of the Lord.  God tells us in
Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways,” (NIV)    If we give Him our heart and keep our eyes on Him, our heart can be a beacon of light no matter what life brings our way.

Luke 11:33-36 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” (NIV)

Be encouraged, that as we remove each “window covering”, more light will come into our hearts and out of our eyes and mouths.  Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (NIV)  Let God open your eyes, your heart and your soul to Him.

You can’t be a beacon if your light doesn’t shine.  Take down the curtains and blinds, open the windows to your heart.  Put your heart out there for the world to see.  Let them see Christ in you.  If you get hurt or ridiculed, then count it joy that you were persecuted for His Name.