: . .
is single, your whole
body will be full of
light.” (Matthew 6:22)
The “eye” means the
eye of the mind, the
eye of faith, the eye of
understanding – what
we see to be true. For the
eye to be “single” means
a perception of truth
that is clear, pure, not
mixed up with things
that obstruct or distort
our mental vision.
The New King James translation uses the word “good” rather than “single”
to describe the kind of vision we need, and this helps us understand the
meaning here. It is love that focuses and directs our thought. It is a desire for
what is good that gives us a “single eye” – that is, a clear perception of what is
true and real; substantial, living, fruitful and eternal. Seeing truth begins with
a love of truth.
Only the Lord has a perfect view of what is in anyone’s heart, but it
certainly appeared that our friend Norman had a “good eye.”
One truth that he saw clearly, and felt very strongly about, was that the
Lord’s Word includes all three of the written forms in which we have it: the
Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Writings of the New Church. “The
authority of the Writings” was the subject of his Theological School thesis and
was a fundamental principle from which he never wavered.
“Authority” is a loaded word, with some bad connotations. But to
acknowledge the authority of the Word simply means to acknowledge that the
Lord is its Author, and that it is therefore to be treated with utmost reverence
and respect. And that it is to be trusted and obeyed as our supreme guide in
determining what is right and wrong.
Anyone who thinks that acknowledging the authority of the Word stifles
thought, or casts a pall over the pleasures of life, or means there can be no fun
and humor, must never have met Norman Riley.
The truth is that the good sense and good conscience we get from obeying
the Lord’s commandments actually free us up to enjoy ourselves more fully. “If
you abide in My Word,” the Lord said, “you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.” (John 8:31) Not just free from oppression from without,
but from the even worse internal oppression of guilt and regret.
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