Turn Your Eyes

When my son was born, one of his eyes was squished shut while the other was wide open. Mere seconds old, he lifted his head and valiantly sought to take in his new and, I imagine, startling surroundings. He squinted at my face, his lower lip quivering with the effort. Wide-eyed behind my glasses, I stared back, utterly transfixed.

Both of his eyes open fully now, and his vision grows clearer week by week. He loves to examine his high-contrast books and gawk at his dad’s goofy expressions. He seems mesmerized by warning labels—proof that the apple did not fall far from me, the ever-cautious and rule-following tree. But sometimes controlling those little eyes is tough. They slide in and out of focus. They often cross one way or the other and roll back into his head when he is drowsy.

Every time he wakes, it seems he has to remember how to wield this amazing new power of sight. Fixing his gaze requires a great deal of effort.

I am reminded of one of my favorite hymns, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” As we grow, our eyes become stronger and steadier, but are we fixing them upon things eternal? For that matter, are we fixing our gaze at all? As I watch little Martin spend long minutes mesmerized by black-and-white books, shadows, faces, and ceiling fans, I have to conclude that, while our eyes become stronger, our vision often becomes less focused.

Our eyes dart from distraction to distraction. They are hungry for stimulation—an ancient problem made worse in the digital age (Eccl. 1:8). But our restless eyes testify to a more pernicious problem: restless hearts. As we grow out of infancy, our eyesight improves. But we still need to train our hearts toward clarity and steadiness. Like newborn babies, every time we wake, we have to refocus on our Lord and, like babies, this takes all our strength (Deut. 6:4–7).

If you would, hum along with me as we wrap up this meandering post:

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Through death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
For more than conquerors we are! [Refrain]

3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell! [Refrain]