Spiritual Director · January 19, 2015

It’s a free gift

Good Morning!

I never knew how hard it is to buy eyeglasses! I have for many, many years worn contact lenses and then “readers” to improve everyday sight, etc. I went to a store to purchase glasses and, without knowing it, I bought “single vision” glasses. When they came in I could not read the computer or print. It turns out, I discovered this weekend, that the single vision glasses are for distance vision. If I want “up close” vision or both I have to buy a “progressive lens” and the actual lens progresses from far away vision to closer vision as you move your eyes down the lens itself.

Well, says the optometrist, there are many levels of progressive lenses based on my astigmatism and visual needs. So 100’s of dollars later I’m frustrated and have asked them to hold the whole thing while I think about what to do. Meanwhile, updating my teen age son and his glasses puts me in the $200 range and the great thing is that includes “poly-carbonate” which makes the lens smaller rather than larger in thickness! This appeals to my son and it adds money to the overall cost. Don’t even get me started on “anti-glare” or the extra money for eye glass lens/frame protection and warranty.  Sigh…..wish things like this could be easier…

Isn’t it a beautiful thing that our God is “easy”, simple? Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, for my burden is light and easy and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28). We don’t have to buy anything, freedom and grace have been paid for by Jesus giving His life for us and rising again from the dead!  We don’t have to spend anything to have forgiveness and hope because they are free. It’s all a free gift and it’s yours and mine today and forever!  Now that I can see!

 “Freely freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe others will know that I live..”

Pastor Doug Givan

Chaplain

Website | + posts

Eric is our current Webmaster and works on the NLS Communications Team. Raised in Judaism, he found Christ and the New Testament at age 16 in a Southern Baptist Church. He searched many denominations for the real church, only to find the Holy Spirit is present in all of them. He's worked for One for Israel, a group of native Israeli believers who are sharing the gospel in the holy land in Hebrew and is part of the only Hebrew speaking seminary in Israel.