Some Additional Scripture Pertinent to My Testimony

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:2-5)

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins." (2 Peter 1:2-9)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13)

"You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Part of my testimony

When I left high school for college, I had certain high expectations. Even given some physical limitations, I had done well balancing curricular and extra-curricular life so far. Why should I not be able to in college, also?

With my new, portable typewriter--my graduation gift from my parents--and Roget's Thesaurus--a gift from my sister--I made my way to the college of my choice. I signed up for a significant course load and a number of extra-curricular activities. My dad was working close enough that I could go home to the family farm on weekends if I chose to. Life looked set for me.

But what I had been able to handle in high school proved to be too much for me in college. In the vernacular, I had bitten off more than I could chew and found myself on the less desirable form of deans' list (academic probation). But I didn't heed the warning signs.

Then in the second semester of my freshman year, my dad told me something I had never considered possible.

The company he had worked for for more than 20 years had been purchased by another. He had been offered a transfer to the new company's place on the east coast, but after he prayed and considered it, he decided to leave the company. He was going to farm full-time, and at some distance from where the college was, on a different farm.

Both shoes had fallen. My world was changed, and I could not handle it.

Oh, I went back for my sophomore year, but that was worse than my freshman year. I left, on probation, before the year was over. Humbled, in tears, driven by my parents to their new farm home, I had no expectations of grace. But God provided me with pastoral and parental counsel. And physical rest I so needed.

After some weeks, I went back to look for work in the city. I didn't know if I would ever be allowed back in college. I had some growing up to do, in any case.

After some time, the college graciously permitted me to return. There were, of course, limitations. I had to get my grades up, so fewer courses at a time were permitted. The level of extra-curricular involvement was also limited. I was so thankful to be given a second opportunity that I was willing to agree to the "new realities."

Then, somewhere along the first year back, I came across this passage, and it did make me see things differently from before:

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men....But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, 'LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD'" (1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 30-31).

I had been foolish, even as one who was being saved, in my impudent expectations. I had not considered that with Jesus as my Sovereign Lord and Savior. I had no right to expect things to go on as before. I had so much need to grow in His grace and in the knowledge of Him and His Word.

I look back with gratitude at the grace He extended to me both then and in subsequent years.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians: "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14).

Cataract Surgery and Sanctification

The time came last year when our eye doctor said a change in glasses would not improve our vision any more, only cataract surgery could. While we knew many had been through this successfully, there was a certain amount of trepidation. These were our eyes, after all. But we went through with all the procedures.

Now that we are on the other side of the surgeries, here is how I compare cataract surgery with sanctification.

You have to trust others. In having the procedures, we had to trust not only the surgeon but those assisting, and that the eye drops prescribed would have the desired effect. In sanctification, as Paul wrote to the Philippians, while we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, it is God who is at work in us "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (2:12-13).

With eye surgery, you have to follow instructions before and after. The doctor gave us specific instructions as to what we were to do to prepare and then to recover. Scripture gives Christians instructions.  As Peter wrote in his second letter: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (1:2-4).  In his second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (3:16-17).

You do see things differently after cataract surgery.

What you thought you saw clearly, now you see more clearly.

You still have to take care following surgery; just because you have begun, doesn't mean you can take any risk afterwards without considering bad consequences to your eyes' recovery.  In regards to the sanctification process, see what the writer of Hebrews had to say in chapter 12: "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Furthermore, if we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for good, that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful, yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness....Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord" (vv. 7-11, 14).

You will probably still need reading glasses after cataract surgery.  That process is something that improves your physical vision, but only with glorification will you really see and know spiritually--"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).