78. Слепой и видящий при нем

It happens that with a blind person there is a person who sees, but the blind person does not know that he is with him. Likewise, with every person there is God, as Omnipresent, but a person who is not enlightened by faith, since he does not see Him, does not know that the Lord and his Judge dwells with him invisibly. It often happens that a blind man, not seeing the person who is with him, does obscene and shameful things, thinking to himself that just as he does not see anyone, no one sees him. So a sinner, like a blind man, not seeing other people around him, thinks and dreams that no one sees him, just as he sees no one, and so he dares to commit lawless deeds. But he is greatly deceived, the poor man, for God, who is present with him, before whom he does and thinks everything, sees him, and sees every deed and thought he has, and writes it in His book, and on the last day will convict him. To the sinner God says: “I will reprove you and bring your sins before your face” * (Ps. 49:21). “You thought that no one saw you when you did lawless deeds, but I saw you, I saw how you violated My law, and I will bring your iniquities before you. You created them secretly, but I will expose you before the whole world, Angels and people. Then you will know, sinner, that I saw everything, no matter what you did, began, or planned in your heart. You hide from people, but you cannot hide from Me anywhere.” Such a blind man is every fornicator, adulterer, defiler and lover of uncleanness, every thief, predator, robber and bribe-taking judge, every slanderer and destroyer of his neighbor’s glory, everyone who treats others flatteringly, treacherously, cunningly, deceitfully, deceitfully and hypocritically, and others. All such people are blind not with their physical eyes, but with their spiritual eyes, and they try to hide from people, but they cannot hide from God the All-Seeing; they hide their lawless deeds from people, but God, who is greater than the entire world of men, sees them. “Understand, you mad and stupid among the people, finally understand? Doesn't he who plugs the ear hear? and does not he who made the eye see?” ( Ps. 94:8-9 ). “The Lord looked from heaven and saw all the sons of men; from His prepared dwelling He who formed their hearts and looked into all their deeds looked at all who lived on the earth” (Ps. 32:13-15). “Your eyes, O Lord, are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to reward everyone according to his way and according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jer. 32:19). “Where shall I go from Thy Spirit, and where shall I flee from Thy Face? If I ascend to heaven - You are there; If I go to hell, you will be there too. If I lift up my wings in the morning and dwell on the edge of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will hold me. Shall I say, “Perhaps darkness will hide me,” but the night also is light in my delight, for the darkness will not be dark from You, and the night will be as bright as the day: as is the darkness, so is the light” (Ps. 139:7-12). You see, man, that although none of the people are with you, God the Judge is present with you. And although none of the people sees you, God sees your deeds, Whom you should fear and be ashamed of more than the whole world, more than all Angels and people, for before Him all creation is nothing. Be afraid and repent. And henceforth beware of committing lawlessness in the eyes of God - lest you recognize His vengeful hand on yourself! When a blind person, although he does not see the person who is with him, but knows for sure that there is a person with him, he is afraid of doing something indecent. Likewise, a Christian, enlightened by faith, although he does not see God present - and it is impossible to see Him, nevertheless sees Him with the inner eye of faith, and sees the Invisible as visible in front of him. This is what the psalmist says about himself, enlightened by faith and the Holy Spirit: “I always saw the Lord before me” (Ps. 15:8). This is what is written about Moses the prophet: “For he stood firm as if he saw the Invisible” (Heb. 11:27). The property of faith is that it represents the invisible God as visible to the eyes of the soul. Enlightened by such faith, the soul everywhere and in every place walks before God with fear and reverence, and is careful of everything that is disgusting to Him, and acts before Him as disciples do before their teacher, slaves before their master, children before their father, and a subject before their monarch. With such a soul, the Humane God is the Protector, Helper and Intercessor in all troubles, misfortunes and temptations. “You are Mine. And if you cross over water, I am with you, and the rivers will not cover you; and if you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior,” says the Lord (Is. 43:1-3). A faithful soul dares about this and proclaims: “The Lord shepherds me and will not deprive me of anything. In a green place - there He settled me, raised me by the still water, directed me on the path of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even if I walk in the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Ps. 22:1-4). “The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Protector of my life: whom shall I fear? When the evildoers, my insulters and my enemies, approached me to eat my flesh, they themselves became weak and fell. If a regiment takes up arms against me, my heart will not fear; if battle arises against me, in Him will I trust” (Ps. 26:1-3). Therefore, faithful soul, “do not let your foot stumble; He who guards you will not sleep; He who guards Israel will not slumber or sleep. The Lord will keep you; The Lord is your covering from your right hand. The sun will not burn you during the day, and the moon will not burn you at night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; The Lord will preserve your soul. The Lord will preserve your coming in and your going out from now on and forever” (Ps. 121:3-8). Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “The ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: