“Seeing double” is the colloquial term ascribed to a phenomenon in which a particular kind of visual impairment causes the person experiencing it to perceive two images when only one is actually present.  The scientific designation for this is, “diplopia.”

Films and television programs often portray double vision as the comical result of illegal drug use or excessive drinking.  But it is no laughing matter.  Persistent or repeated diplopia warrants prompt medical attention to determine the cause(s) of the disorder—not an easy task, as there are many potential culprits—including but not limited to: cataracts, eye disease, eye or head injury, external pressure on the eye, the wrong eyeglass lenses, some prescription medications and yes, substance abuse.  

Once the likely cause of double vision is determined, minor adjustments may be all that are needed to bring relief.  In other cases, some form of critical intervention may be necessary.  Surgical correction may even be indicated, where appropriate.  

Unhappily for me, it seems that I suffer from a related but opposite problem.  I sometimes see singly when I should be seeing double.

Just a few short weeks ago (though it seems much longer now) someone quite close to me revealed that he had “stage 4B” (metastatic) cancer.  This, on top of several other chronic and more recent health issues.  I hiked up into some steep hills, which afforded solitude and a commanding, panoramic view, stretching below for miles in any direction.  I wanted to be alone so that I could talk to someone.  That “someone” was Jesus Christ.

I stood in silence, inviting Him to give attention to my worship and then, to my prayers for His help and consolation.   I waited patiently before beginning, as if to give Him time to make ready to listen.  Although it was approaching late afternoon, brilliant sunlight lingered, gilding everything with an incongruent luster, a strange luminescent radiance.   The hills were green and windswept.

I began to praise Jesus for His divine attributes, His faultless, flawless character and His many precious promises to those who put their trust and hope in Him.  I thanked Jesus for His steadfast love, His astounding grace and His countless acts of kindness and generosity toward Me and all who confess Him as Lord and Savior. 

The conversation was going well—meaning that, at least from my perspective, we were communicating.  I was satisfied with my efforts to express what I felt and what I hoped His plan would enable Him to do for my loved one.  I trusted God’s word, rather than “sensing” or feeling that Christ was listening and that I was being heard.  My requests would receive their due consideration, in alignment with God’s higher purpose and will.

It was at about this time that I turned my head and caught a glimpse of a single shadow—my shadow.  It struck me as odd that I should see evidence of only one party to the conversation, when there were clearly two involved and I was still speaking to the other Person!

I was obviously suffering from a case of single vision.  Yet there was no medical issue.  My eyes were functioning normally, dutifully attesting to just what they’re designed to see.  The “only” proof that Jesus was there with me, catching every word, was what the Bible calls, “faith.”  No, that’s not adequate, not correct.  It is how the Bible defines faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

My presence was corroborated by the evidence of my shadow.  Christ’s presence was established by faith in God’s promise, as written in the Bible.  For example, [Jesus said] “…I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) and, “…I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

Where He goes, I go and where I go, He goes.  What a comfort!  Yet, in order to see His shadow while still in this body, I must use the eyes of faith.  I must learn to see double. Always.

Faith is vitally important (nothing moreso): “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is [i.e. that He exists], and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).  Those who diligently seek God, the God of the Bible, the “In the beginning God…” will be rewarded—God will reveal Himself to them.

And faith is critical for another reason: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Grace is being on the receiving end of favor that you don’t deserve.  Sinful people aren’t worthy to spend one moment in the spotless presence of a holy God, let alone all eternity. But God’s grace alone won’t save you from being banished from His glorious presence or from being punished for your sins forever.

That’s where faith comes in.  God’s testimony is that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus into the world to do what we could never do—live a sinless life.  By doing so, Jesus qualified Himself as our sin-bearer and substitute, facing God’s righteous wrath against sin through His suffering, death and burial.  But after He had paid the full penalty for our sins on the cross, God raised Jesus from the dead.  He will return one day (soon) to judge the earth and to rule and reign over His long-promised kingdom.

Do you believe God’s testimony?  Scripture says that if you do not, you are compounding your sins, not only by rejecting God’s supreme sacrifice of His one and only Son, but by calling God a liar: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son” (I John 5:10).

If we have faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus, isn’t that a mark in our favor?  Not according to Ephesians 2:8-9 (quoted earlier).  The passage makes clear that even our faith is a gift from God “…lest any man should boast.”  We cannot add to or subtract from what God has done for us.

God has a plan to save whoever will humble himself or herself, repent of (turn away from) their sin, confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and receive by faith the pardon that Jesus died to purchase for them with His own precious blood.  That plan is built on coming to God His way, on His terms: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).  Jesus declares that there is only one way to His Father, one way to everlasting life, one way to heaven.  Do you believe the Son’s testimony?

You should believe it.  God’s word is clear: “And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:11-12).

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). 

The verdict has been rendered.  Sentence has been passed.  The interval is yours, but eternity is God’s.  Stop viewing Jesus as a historical figure, a mere man, no matter how remarkable.  Learn to see double and behold Him as He truly is: the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, your Savior or your judge.  Whichever you choose, God will honor your choice.  If that concerns you, read on.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)