I have dry eyes. They were always dry, but after laser eye surgery sixteen years ago, they got even drier. I use drops each morning and when my eyes can get really irritated. So I recently read, with great interest, about work being done to treat dry eyes.
In fact, this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a lifitegrast ophthalmic solution (drug name, Xiidra) for the treatment of dry eye syndrome. These new treatments promise to help with dry eyes…and that is good news!
At least 20% of the population has dry eye syndrome. And, maybe drugs like Xiidra will help people like me. But, do you know that there is a dry eye problem that no drug can fix? It is called, spiritually dry eyes.
There’s a hymn I enjoy, called My Eyes Are Dry (Listen Here):
My eyes are dry; My faith is old; My heart is hard; My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be – Alive to you and dead to me.
But what can be done – for an old heart like mine?
Soften it up, with oil and wine. The oil is you, your spirit of love.
Please wash me anew, with the wine of your blood.
You see, just as an eye can stop producing tears, the spiritual eye can dry as well. And when our spiritual eyes begin to dry, we forget to weep and mourn over the state of sin in our lives. But those who weep now will be blessed (Luke 6:21).
Jeremiah’s eyes ran like streams of water because of the destruction of his people (Lamentations 3:48). The psalms are packed with laments and weeping over hearts that long for God. Even Jesus wept at the state of God’s people (John 11:35).
Doctors tell us that, “Normal tear production is needed for clear vision and eye health.” What about us friends? Are our eyes dry? A few moist eyes might just help us have a clearer spiritual vision and health too. Being washed over by the Spirit and the healing blood of Christ can cure any dry eyes!
