Willed Blindness
Deliberate deception leads to spiritual blindness, but turning to Jesus Christ for light allows us to find truth and salvation.
Elisabeth Elliot preaches about the consequences of deliberate deception and the danger of holding onto darkness within ourselves, which can lead others away from the light of Jesus Christ. She emphasizes that God is pure light without any darkness, and if we harbor darkness within us, we risk drawing others into that darkness. The story of Elymas serves as a warning against willfully falsifying the truth and the resulting spiritual blindness that follows such deception.
Text
In Paphos there lived a sorcerer named Elymas, who posed as a prophet. He belonged to the governor's retinue. Seized with jealousy because the governor wanted to hear the word of the Lord from Paul and Barnabas, Elymas tried to turn him aside from faith. Having seen the light, Elymas preferred darkness and preferred also that others remain in darkness if their turning to the light should turn them away from him. He thus willfully falsified the truth and was struck blind.
The result of deliberate deception is blindness. The man who, to preserve his own position, deceives himself or another, is a swindler (this is what Paul called Elymas), "rascal, son of the devil, enemy of all goodness" (Acts 13:10 NEB).
God is light and in Him is not any darkness at all.
If we guard some comer of darkness in ourselves, we will soon be drawing someone else into darkness, shutting them out from the light in the face of Jesus Christ.
"Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen" (Book of Common Prayer).
Sermon Outline
- The Result of Deliberate Deception
- The Consequences of Willful Blindness
- The Importance of Embracing Light
- God as the source of light and truth
- The danger of guarding darkness in ourselves
- The importance of turning to Jesus Christ for light
Key Quotes
“The result of deliberate deception is blindness.” — Elisabeth Elliot
“God is light and in Him is not any darkness at all.” — Elisabeth Elliot
“If we guard some comer of darkness in ourselves, we will soon be drawing someone else into darkness, shutting them out from the light in the face of Jesus Christ.” — Elisabeth Elliot
Application Points
- We must be aware of the dangers of deliberate deception and willful blindness in our own lives.
- Turning to Jesus Christ for light is essential for finding truth and salvation.
- Guarding darkness in ourselves can lead to spiritual blindness and harm to others.