The Eyes Have It
For some reason the other day I found myself humming that old Crystal Gayle tune, “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”
I do not have brown eyes, or blue eyes. In fact, I do not have green eyes.
Let’s talk about eye color. I have Hazel eyes: a combination of green and brown.
According to worldatlas.com, 70-79% of people have brown eyes worldwide.
People with blue eyes: 8-10%.
People with hazel eyes: 5%.
People with green eyes: 2%.
And, other: 9%. (Amber, Gray, etc.)
Matthew 6 describes the eye as the lamp of the body. Think about that for just a moment. What is the main function of a lamp?
Lamp: a device for producing illumination.
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23 KJV
New King James Version puts it this way “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good (or healthy), your whole body will be full of light...”
The function of a lamp is to give light. The function of the eye is to receive light. So, what is being said here?
“Jesus gives a short parable about what the eye can see to emphasize the importance of spiritual awareness. To have a true perspective. If our eye is good, we see the reality and glory of His Kingdom and we will act according to our sight and prosper. If our eye is bad, we fail to see His Kingdom’s reality and glory, then we will act according to our blindness, to our shame.
“…Jesus begins, “The eye is the lamp of the body”.
“The eye is the organ of sight. The eye functions as a lamp for the body it serves. As a lamp sheds light so that we can see our surroundings, the eye allows us to perceive physical reality. The eye is how the body perceives its surrounding environment…
“Jesus concludes His short parable with this statement: if then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! In other words, if the light that you are acting by is wrong and misleading, how great will your confusion become as you continue to follow its deceptions.
“If you cannot see, you are liable to act foolishly. And as folly leads to greater folly, darkness leads to greater darkness…
“Without the truth revealed by God, we will be like someone trying to find their way while stumbling in the pitch dark. When we have eyes to see truth through the eyes of faith, it leads to recognition of a very present and a very powerful reality. The reality of His kingdom.” (Source: thebiblesays.com)
I find myself wondering this morning, what color are the eyes of our Creator? No doubt, like nothing we have ever seen. We are made in His image, I can’t wait to see.
2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. Why? To show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
What a beautiful visual.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3.
Someone once mentioned to me in passing something like, “for people who do not believe in God, I challenge them to study the human eye.”
In short, our eyes are a specialized organ, capable of receiving visual images, where they are then carried to the brain.
In long, there is much more to it!
There are 14 parts that make up the eye.
Optic nerve
Optic disc
Fovea centralis
Retina
Sclera
Choroid
Ciliary body
Lens
Cornea
Pupil
Aqueous body
Iris
Suspensory ligament
Vitreous body
Oh, and of the optic nerves, you have two: Cones and Rods.
The eye also consists of 6 muscles:
Medial rectus
Lateral rectus
Superior rectus
Inferior rectus
Inferior oblique
Superior oblique.
“…the eye of a human being is like a camera. Much like the electronic device, the human eye also focuses and lets in light to produce images. So basically, light rays that are deflected from or by distant objects, land on the retina after they pass through various mediums like the cornea, crystalline lens, aqueous humor, the lens, and vitreous humor.” (source: byjus.com)
The eye is an amazing piece of creation. Study the eye and You begin to understand a very miniscule bit of who and what our Creator God is.
You will find page after page of information on the eye at britannica.com, if you want to read more.
The eye is incredible and is just one part of our amazing body.
“I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderful made. Wonderful are Your works, my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14 ESV
by Jeanette Stark – Tuesday, February 21, 2023