Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Matthew 13:13-15.

Lack of vision: "seeing, but don't see". Outward sight but inability to perceive what is seen. Where there is no vision, the people perish... So while Proverbs 29:18 may mean "no revelation or divine communication from God", it can also be applied to the lack of ability to perceive (understand, grasp) with the heart, mind and soul what is seen with the eye. THIS is exactly what Matthew 13:13-15 was referring to: folks had their physical senses, but no spiritual perception. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. Isaiah 44:18. Without spiritual perception people WILL truly perish.


In a day and age when man's technology is accomplishing greater things at a faster rate than ever before, more people than ever are perishing. In a day and age when man's technology enables us to live longer and with better health, people are still perishing at a ghastly rate. Why? For exactly the same reason as on the very day those words were first penned: Where there is no vision, the people perish... People are still "not getting IT"--they see, yet do not perceive. They hear, yet do not perceive. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted...


The story is told of a French officer, whose ship had been captured by Admiral Nelson. He walked up to the Admiral and offered his hand. Nelson would have none of it: "Your sword first, if you please," said Nelson. History also records that Caesar was sent a gift by a person who had rebelled against his authority. Caesar promptly returned the gift with a message attached: "Subjection first." In order to be reconciled to God, the sinner must first subject himself to the authority of God and lay down his arms of rebellion. He must admit that he is a sinner in NEED of a Savior.

Dr. R.A. Torrey was holding meetings in London. A young man remained behind after service one night for conversation. Dr. Torrey asked him if he was a sinner. "Not as you use that word," he answered. Dr. Torrey then asked him, "Do you believe that God loves you, and that Christ died for you?" The young man answered, "No, sir." Dr. Torrey paused as he opened his Bible, "Then you are guilty of the greatest sin man can commit," and showed the young man, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. I John 1:8-10. The young man's eyes were opened to his sinful state and he was saved.


It is not the destitute, filthy, rag-bound, stinking alcoholic who stumbles from his hovel under the bridge in search of more gin who is the hardest to reach with the Word of God. Nor is it the prisoner bound and shackled, convicted of heinous crimes. The hardest persons to reach are those who are convinced within themselves of their own goodness and "lack of sin". Such as an elder in a church who declared, "I do not need to be converted: I never did any harm. Some are like the prodigal son, I am like his brother."

Surely one can see his lack of vision; he did not even perceive that of which he spoke. Read the account for yourself in Luke 25-33. The "Elder Brother" blamed his father, spoke evil of his [newly-returned] brother and boasted of his own righteousness. Because of his high opinion of himself and his virtues, he rebelled against the call of his father, sulking outside the father's house. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:3,4.


After a long time of the church worker patiently witnessing to a young man about the sad state of his lost soul, the young man replied, "I enjoy how I'm living and am not bothered with such things as 'your salvation'." The church worker paused--with tears in his voice, he soberly looked at down at the young man as he stood to take his leave: "You'd better get all you can out of it then, for if you continue without Christ, it is the only heaven you'll ever have."

The story is told of a minister who went to visit an elderly lady who had once attended his church and sat under his preaching. It had been reported to him that she had been offended by one of his sermons; she had not since returned to church. She was polite, but resisted any discussion of scriptures, even to refusing his offer to pray with her. As he made ready to go, he gently inquired as to her spiritual state. She stated she loved playing cards, saw no harm in them and would not give them up for anyone. The aged minister softly warned, "They then are your god, madam. It is upon them you must call as you prepare to die."


It is said that Julius Caesar was handed a letter as he stepped into his chariot, with the word "Urgent," on its cover. It carried the warning of a plot to kill him, yet he was too preoccupied with getting to the senate to open it. He stuck it into his belt to open later. As history records, when he entered the forum, he was killed by an assassin's dagger. The unopened letter was later found in his belt. Ignoring or failing to heed God's warning is to perish. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. Acts 13:40,41. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. Isaiah 3:11.


There are those who use the hypocrisy of others as an excuse for their own refusal to accept salvation for their souls. They will argue, "I knew one who professed to be saved, but it turned out he was as big a sinner after as before!" To them goes the response: it is not unlikely. Not ALL who "profess", possess. Still one wonders why, out of all those who DO "profess" AND possess, they would settle on the few who do not follow through. Shall I tell you why? It is because their argument is WEAK and WITHOUT MERIT. There have always been false "professors": Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1:15,16.


There are those who are still defeated by their past. Even after having given it all over to God, they allow the devil to beat them up and batter them about over things done long ago. To them, we offer this:

There was a lady who had been once been a vile sinner--her lifestyle wanton and depraved. In later years, as she gave her testimony of the saving Grace of God, a woman of the audience sneered up at her and said, "I KNOW what you used to be. Doesn't it bother you that I know?" The speaker replied, "Oh, but you don't know the half of it. I was far worse than even you knew. But also know this: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin. I John 1:7. How many are left after that?" Satan has no power over those who have been blood bought by the Blood of the Lamb! Don't let him (or anyone else) defeat that which has been instilled in you through Salvation in Jesus Christ!


A man saw a drove of swine following a man to the slaughterhouse. It aroused his curiosity as to how the man was able to get the swine to follow him so faithfully. He followed and soon found that the man had a bag of beans under one arm, from which he dropped a bean now and then. Each hog was content to follow along, intent upon trying to secure for itself a mere bean.

So it is with people--so many are being led along by the enticement of an occasional "bean" from the devil's bag of tricks! Oh how cheaply we enter the poverty of eternal damnation instead of partaking of the feast at our Heavenly Father's table and the riches of His glory! The devil wants ALL to perish: our Heavenly Father does NOT! The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9. It does not mean that ALL will come to a saving knowledge of the Grace of God through salvation, but surely many more would if they but could perceive the truth of the Amazing Grace of God instead of falling for the lies of Satan!


Have you lost your vision? Have the trials of life burdened you low? Are you stumbling about in the darkness of Satan's lies to you? Do you not know that Jesus truly cares about you? Oh yes He does! He understands our frailties as human beings! He knows what it means to be sad, lonely, rejected, angry, hurt. He left the perfection of Heaven to live in this old imperfect world, that He might fully understand our need for a Savior!

He does not want you to perish--He wants to restore your "vision". He wants you to see Him--there on that cross--in your place. He cares, oh how much He cares!