“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9).
Shortsightedness (or myopeia) is a common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry or indistinct. Those who suffer from this condition have difficulty viewing signs, landmarks, or similar items at a distance because their eyes do not focus such images properly. Corrective lenses can often help those individuals gain better vision by refocusing faraway images at a correct point within the eye.
However, this word has an alternate definition that is unrelated to any physical ailment. You see, “shortsightedness” can also refer to “a lack of prudence and care by someone in the management of resources.” (1) Each of these definitions are relevant to our text from 2 Peter 1:9.
We can begin by noting that this verse describes a person whose spiritual vision is limited, or compromised. Much like a person with a visual impairment, a spiritually shortsighted person fails to focus on the truths that were given to us earlier in this letter…
“By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life… And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Our second definition prompts us to adopt a long-term perspective, for it highlights the need to prioritize our choices with eternity in mind. If we place our focus on the acquisition of temporal things (such as material wealth, social status, or financial acquisitions), we may lose sight of the vast eternity that lies in the distance. Since a spiritually shortsighted person does not “see” eternity, that individual must leave those investments behind when he or she departs from this earthly life.
In contrast, a person with good spiritual vision is someone who embraces Jesus’ message from Matthew 6:19-21…
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (NIV).
Thus, we can view the Biblical Scriptures as a set of “corrective lenses” that enable us to see the world before us and the distant future with genuine clarity.
(1) shortsightedness. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved June 3 2024 from https://www.thefreedictionary.com/shortsightedness