I have recently been thinking about the term “tunnel vision”. This is a metaphor for holding tightly to the promises of God; walking in, not wandering from, His narrow path. My Google searches revealed that the term came to psychology from ophthalmology. Oculists call tunnel vision the vision of people in whom the peripheral region of the retina is poorly developed or does not work at all. Simply put, a person with such a diagnosis see only what is right in front of his eyes, as if looking down a tunnel—Everything else is beyond the boundaries of his perception. In other words, that person has difficulty seeing to the left or right.
We can all be grateful for Biblical views of tunnel vision. See examples in the following verses that guide us to live lives of singleness of heart and mind with others in one accord—not wavering to the left or right.
“And they [the disciples of Christ],continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2:48 KJV – emphasis added)
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”(Hebrews 10:23 NLT)
Yet there are those warnings when our tunnel vision causes the focus of our walk to get out of step with God’s direction:
“But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.” (Jeremiah 17:23 KJV).
They also had a focused point of view—not wavering to the left or the right.
One person’s commentary says it this way: “Adrenaline and tunnel vision are crazy things; you get what you’re doing done, and then later you realize what’s happened.”
How grateful we can be that the mercy of our Lord overshadows us—whether we are looking steadfastly down a tunnel in obedience or finding ourselves out of focus and headed in the wrong direction.
Phyllis Andrews 5-23-22
In everything we want to accomplish well, we must have “tunnel vision.” Without focus, we tend to meander and do things haphazardly. Too often, we look back and wish we had been more attentive to our actions–so it is with our service to our Lord. He deserves our very best but too often we were not willing to give Him the best of our labor, our time, and our love–we read and study the Bible, pray, attend church, or help build God’s kingdom if we have time after all else is done. I believe that at times we are all guilty. I know that I am!