2 Peter 1:9

For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

Blind, seeing only what is near ... The last clause is a limitation on the blindness, showing the kind Peter meant, which was not "total blindness" but myopia, or extreme near-sightedness.

SPIRITUAL MYOPIA

Alas, this is the blindness that afflicts all unspiritual souls who sacrifice the hope of eternal life for immediate convenience or pleasure. There are many Biblical examples of persons afflicted with spiritual myopia. (1) Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, solely because the immediate prospect seemed favorable. (2) The rich man neglected Lazarus begging at his gate, rather than accepting whatever inconvenience of the moment that might have been incurred in his relief. (3) Demas was dazzled by the near-at-hand attractiveness of the present age and forsook Paul (2 Timothy 4:10). (4) The parable of the prodigal son gives another example of one for whom the romantic allure of the "far country" with its short term promise of diversion, pleasure and entertainment, etc., blinded him to the tragedy of ultimate consequences. It is not hard to see that the world still has its share of those who are the spiritual sons of Lot, Demas, the prodigal son, and the rich man of the parable.

SPIRITUAL HYPEROPIA

There is also a spiritual malady exactly the opposite of spiritual myopia except in the one particular of producing the same undesirable consequences. It is spiritual hyperopia, or far-sightedness. It is generally accepted as a compliment when people are told that they are "far-sighted"; but there is a type of far-sightedness that goes much too far: (1) The eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth (Proverbs 17:24). (2) The one concerned with the mote in his brother's eye while at the same time being unable to see the beam in his own eye is another example. (3) Hyperopia afflicts the emotions of some who cannot appreciate present blessings, who are restless and dissatisfied even with abundance, because they have set their eyes upon some Utopia, despising all present good in the fevered pursuit of some fantastic Shangrila. Harriet Winslow addressed these lines to sufferers of such a malady:

Why thus longing, thus forever sighing, For the far-off, unattained, and dim? While the beautiful all around thee lying, Offers its low, perpetual hymn.

(4) Hyperopia also interferes with the work that people should do, making it impossible for those afflicted with it to find anything close at hand to do. Like Sir Launfal, they set their eyes on the ends of the earth, dashing off in pursuit of some great thing to do, while their only opportunity for service and salvation lies ignored and forgotten at their feet. It is this class which Jesus warned with his words, "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not to me" (Matthew 25:45). What far-sighted souls we are! We go in a trance dreaming of worlds to conquer while at our very doors and within our very homes the Master is hungry and sick and in prison!

Illustration. At a religious convention in Pittsburg a few years ago, a young woman from a western village sought funds to remain in Pittsburg and do social welfare work. When the committee in charge inquired of the work she had been doing at home, it came out that she had never done anything; and the chairman said, "Young lady, what you need is to learn how to move in your own burg before you move to Pittsburg!"

Great spiritual opportunities do not lie at the foot of some Andean rainbow, but here, not upon some nebulous tomorrow, but today and now. As Paul put it: "The word that is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach" (Romans 10:8).

"Having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins ... "This refers to wrong acts committed prior to baptism, not to inherited depravity of human nature."[27] "Peter is apparently thinking of the one baptism for the remission of sin."[28] This expression is an allusion to baptism."[29] It refers to "the cleansing he received in baptism."[30] "His old sins ..." means "those committed before he was `purged' in baptism."[31] William Barclay has this:

Failure to climb the ladder of virtue is to forget that the sins of the old way of life have been cleansed away. Peter is thinking of baptism. At that time baptism was adult baptism, a deliberate act of decision to leave the old way and to enter upon the new.[32]

This passage sheds light on a number of important questions; and the following deductions would appear to be justified: (1) Conversion does not occur until baptism takes place. (2) "Old sins" are totally remitted at the time of baptism. (3) The salvation in this is neither final nor irrevocable. (4) Obedience to the commands of Christ is prerequisite both for cleansing from "old sins" and for the ultimate and eternal cleansing.

[27] Ibid., p. 179.

[26] B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 5.

[27] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 528.

[28] B. C. Caffin, op. cit. p. 5.

[29] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 528.

[30] J. R. Dummelow, One Volume Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1050.

[31] Alfred Plummer, op. cit., p. 446.

[32] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 306.