Luke 11: 33-36

³³ “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,^[g] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,^[h] your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶ Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Verse 34 of today’s Luke reading is powerful:

“When your eyes are healthy; you whole body also full of light (v.34)”

Easier said then done, huh? It is such a simple concept that I feel no need to theologically explain it. Simply put, whatever you fill your eyes with is what you will “become.”  

This message is particularly important In an age of social media, YouTube, and streaming channels such as Netflix. All content these days contain hundreds of different messages. Yet, most of us keep watching even when those messages are against God and His word.  I do not believe this is because of a deffeciency inside of us. I truly believe it is simply because we are used to it.  Most of you probably operate similar to myself when we say things like, “I don’t even pay attention to those messages. I just like the story, etc.” 

Jesus this morning reminds us that our eyes are more than just tools for entertainment. Our eyes are the gateway to our soul. Everything you read, write, listen, or watch impacts the function of your soul. Jesus goes so far to say that if you consume darkness you will become darkness.

Let us agree to be challenged by Christ this morning. It would be easy to rationalize and say “I do not really do this.” But stop to think about all that you consume. Think about the conversations you have with your friends. Maybe sometimes those go too far towards gossip? Think about the news sources you read. Perhaps, the negativity isn’t worth the information on the page? Think about your own conversations with yourself. Are you pushing yourself towards Jesus or something else?

As the old adage says, “you are what you eat.” I used to think that only applies to donuts and pastries, but now I see it also applies to my soul.

Pastor Mat