By Ken Blue
“1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” John 9:1-3.
It is natural for us to ask “why” when tragedy or misfortune strikes. This assumption is that illness or calamities are the result of some evil action of ours. This attitude is what moved the disciples to inquire of the Lord Jesus as to why this man was born blind. In this case, it was not the fault of the parents or the blind man. It was simply a misfortune that sometimes happens at birth. It is true, some tragedies are manmade, and some are the result of a creation under the curse.
In the mind of the disciples, two options existed; it was the fault of the parents or the blind man. However, there was a third option which the disciples had not considered. God was going to be glorified in this man’s misfortune. This man’s blindness was the object lesson to open the blind eyes of many.
Have you considered that God can take all your misfortunes and use them to open your eyes and of those around you? Instead of blaming others or yourself, why not find a way to glorify God in your sickness or loss? Your response will open the eyes of others to God’s grace, or it can blind them. It is the third option and depends on you.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.