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2 Peter 1:9
9 But [gar] he that [hos] lacketh [me] [pareimi] these things [tauta] is [esti] blind [tuphlos], and cannot see afar off [muopazo], and hath forgotten [lethe] [lambano] that he was purged from [katharismos] his [autos] old [palai] sins [hamartia]. KJV-Interlinear
9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. NASB
Blind, ‘tuphlos,’ means to blink continually as though one was looking into a very bright light, making it very difficult, actually impossible, to see anything that is distant from you.
Seeing afar off, ‘muopazo,’ means to be near sighted. The blinding light prevents you from seeing truth, so you are left with looking only at that which is very near to you. In the nearness are the worldly details of life that you have a tendency of focusing on.
This tendency of focusing on the near, is a preference because trying to see anything further is difficult without any type of special filtered looking glass.
When a person looks into the brightness of something they generally will raise up their hand in order to shield their eyes from the brightness so they can see better. But this verse indicates that even this simple gesture is ignored, and not even tried. The preference to see only that which is close (worldliness), is a chosen decision, even though one knows that there is something better (Gods grace and peace concepts), in the distance.
So, when you reject, ignore, are indifferent toward, or actually revolt against Gods Word, then by choice you are blind to truth and choose only the short-sighted aspects of life, rather than the long term ramifications of your decisions and opportunities.
The word for forgotten, ‘lethe,’ means to forget by choice, to ignore, to conveniently maintain an indifference, to rationalize, by whatever means, your beliefs over the truths from God.
And what is it that the spiritually negative person chooses to ignore? It is their salvation, it is their plan which God has personalized for them, it is their preference for the tangible pleasures of this world over the intangible characteristics of the spiritual life.
To pursue the things of God, which we have been studying, gives you clarity of sight, discernment, understanding, orientation to everything, wisdom. And in addition, this gives you production in the spiritual life, which is rewardable both now in time and in eternity.
To ignore the aspects of your spiritual life, makes you blind, short-sighted, unable to see clearly the implications of this life. It makes you focus on the things of this earth. Things which are temporary and unimportant, and of which are designed to distract you from truth. This attitude makes you unproductive and worthless.
And because indifference is by conscious choice, then you have no excuse when you eventually face Jesus.
