The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

Luke 11:34-36

The eye is the lamp of the body.  Not an eye, but the eye.  Not the hand, not the tongue, but the eye.  Specifically, it is the eye that is the organ that illuminates the man.

Specifically, when the eye is set correctly, the entire body is filled with light.  This means the solution to being fully illuminated is not in the performance of a thing, nor in the individual execution of any deed, but solely based upon the focus, or gaze of an individual.

So clear on this was Jesus, that He said that when the eye is single, that is “without folds” or set in a way with no duplicity, complication, guile, or other other way, not simply part, but the whole body is fully of light–simply with the eye.

Now, we understand that the eye is both the physical and the spiritual.  The eye is not merely the physical organ of the natural temple, but the spiritual sight of the individual.  We understand that the light is the light of the Gospel, but it is true spiritual illumination.  What many may have sought for, and found counterfeits of, John in his Gospel identified the true light:

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:4

And, Again,

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 1:9

So, when we approach the things of the Spirit, it is only God that illuminates our steps, our heart, and all others are darkness.  Only Jesus brings peace.  Only Jesus brings joy.  Only Jesus brings love.  Only Jesus sets people free.

All others may make claims or attempts at these things, but never for even a moment has any real measure of these things been produced outside of Christ.  Ever.

When the true light fills us, when we have our eyes set without folds, without wrinkles, we can see God.  Imagine what that must be like then, for the millions who have folded eyes.  They see one thing, but another thing obstructs.  They perceive one way, but it is immediately clouded and interpreted into another scheme.  Yes, ultimately, this is the operation of the veil which the evil has put over the hearts and minds of the unbeliever.

When we look at dark with that singleness of vision, our whole being is filled with darkness.  When the eye is made to look purely at dark, the great evils of mankind and witchcraft has ultimately resulted.  But, our hope is still sure, for, “The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.” (John 1:5 GWT).

The end of the matter is that when we are fully lit, simply because of our eye, it is like the light of lamp is shining on us.

Take this to the realm of inner healing and forgiveness for a moment.  Jesus said it was the eye that was the lamp, not anything else.  He said that we must have a single eye, not folded with duplicity or complication.  The solution may involve many things, but it is, in the end, about one–Vision.

Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

Numbers 11:1

The Israelites in the wilderness complained about their hardships, their trials, and there poverty.  They couldn’t see that God was trying to show them something bigger and greater, namely Himself.  He was leading them in an austere place to take away their reliance upon the flesh and earthly things, from the idols and the mindsets of the cluttered Earth, so that they could see Him.  But, instead of heading His discipline, they gave voice to their complaint and grumbled about their circumstances.

Their eyes were set in Egypt and upon their own feelings, and they received the fire of affliction and the sands of adversity.  Where there eye was, where it was pulled away from gazing upon their beloved, was what they received.  And, it took the prayers of a man of God in their midst to quench the destructive fire of God in their midst. So that place was called Taberah (burning), because fire from the LORD had burned among them (Numbers 11:3).

When we look to our hurts and our losses, we see only that.  When we look only to the Lord, we, likewise, receive only that.  Think about that.  When the eye is single, the whole body is full of light.

This then, is the ultimate crux of all mind renewal, inner healing, and counselling, simply to focus upon the Lord.  God is good, and everything He does is good.  He is enthroned forever, and He reigns on high.

When we fail to apprehend this fact, we see only the darkness.  When we look to the world and its devices, we see only what it has in store for us, which is death, destruction, and wasting away.

But, the door has been opened into the Most Holy Place.  The way has been made, through the blood of Jesus, into the sanctuary of the Most High, and we do not have to live as part of this world.

As high as the heavens are above the Earth, so far are His ways above man’s ways; and we have the mind of Christ!

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.
Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:23-27

Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.  These are good words.  For, when we look at any other thing, or allow the many competing voices to have a place in our thoughts, we will look another way, and quite often make a mis-step.

But, to Nathanael, Jesus gave this report, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47).  That is, Jesus found nothing false, nothing deceitful or devious in him.  There was no pretense or mask to put on.

The path of the Gospel is simple and clear.  Look straight ahead.  In fact, Jesus was so plain about this, that He instructed us thus,

 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Matthew 10:19

So, when we come into any situation, and we allow any other thing to affect our vision, instead of simply seeing what is there right in front of us, we miss the Kingdom, usually.  Whether it is fears or past hurts and wounds or even bitter root expectations, we often miss the very thing that is presented to us, if we could only see it.

For, if we can see with the eyes of God, we can see not the circumstance, nor the hardships of our situation, but God in it, even though it may be hard for our flesh at the time.

When we can step out of the fears that drive us, out of the mindsets that try to shape us, and out of the culture which wants to corrupt us, we can live in a place of the Freedom of His Spirit, and like the wind, go wherever He pleases, whether or not it makes sense to anyone else around us.

There is always a “loss” when it comes to apprehending anything of God.  We always must lose something that seemed precious to us at one time.  This is the parable of the treasure hidden in the field (Matthew 13:44).  But, when we can set our gaze on the One Thing, the only thing of Eternal significance and Life, when we truly see it, we gladly “sell all”, and lose this Earthly life for His.

It is more than a divine revelation, it is an Eternal transaction; it is a holy exchange of the mundane for the precious, from corruption to immortality.  Not the kind of immortality that the world might suppose, but true life, true redemption, true freedom.  Not continuing on as “mere flesh”, but divine, holy, transcendent above this Earth, because we are seated with Him who is seated far above (Ephesians 1:20).

This is the way in the Heavenlies, and it is only with a pure gaze, of love, adoration, and devotion.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Psalm 27:4