Jesus is coming soon

The Eyes Have It – repost of Pastor Todd’s sermon

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Washington, Oregon, Pensacola, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Iowa.

Praise God! These are exciting and daunting times we live in. Did you know that true born-again believers hold God to his high standard of always doing things the right way?

Christians also believe his living word in spite of what they see going on in society. Someone once said, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it!” No wiggle room for doubt, is there?

So, today, September 10th, 2023 you can embrace and hold God to his word that says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28 KJV).

These comforting encouraging words by Jesus are for those previous he spoke in verses 7-28. Even if things escalate and get worse, the true believer and follower of Jesus has God as his shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:4; Isaiah 41:10).

Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for being our rock, our shelter and our protector. Lord, this morning we set our hearts on your presence. When we are afraid, sick, or in deep trouble, we live and rest in you.

Today Lord, I pray you’re Holy Spirit would boldly fill the lives of those seeking you. Help our hearts to be pliable so our sins can be confessed and not grieve and diminish the presence and voice of the Spirit.

Help us crave your presence and your word today. Help us grow in the fruit of the Spirit and walk closer with you today. Guide us through your words of promise. Let your will and promises be written in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How many of you have ever had to take a side during pleasant debates about where your family would go out to eat? Growing up in my family, it seems we were always taking a vote on which fast food place to eat at.

No matter the venue, it seems we were deciding where to go on a vote. My parents were the judge and jury as to where they would take us to have fun. They kept their sights on going from point “A to Z” and back home.

They never got frustrated from all the loud voices in the back of the car screaming about which place to take us. They would be creative by conjuring up different games to break any ties.

Voting by playing games like Rock, Paper, Scissors, left my wrist hurting. For some reason (which I can’t explain), I lost a whole lot more than I won. All that, just because I wanted to go to Pizza Hut instead of McDonald’s.

My parents would come up with new ways for us to vote each time they took us out for fun. Sometimes they would just ask us for a simple vote on two different places. It was simply an “I” or “Nay.” I guess that meant “Yes or No.”

When all the voices were cast (in a loud way. You know how kids are), my mother would say, “The “I,s” have it!” I still didn’t get it. I just wanted some pizza. I guess we can’t always have what we want.

Now that you’ve heard how important it is to keep peace by having your “I,s” in the right place, today’s message is about that very topic. No, not the “I,s” but “The eyes.” What a transition, huh?

I know, but I’m just trying to keep everyone interested (Smile). That’s why the Lord told us not to worry about what we would say, because he would reveal it to us in that very hour (Mark 13:11). So, I’m relying on the Holy Spirit’s help.

I also covet everyone’s prayers each week to say and write how the Lord directs me. Sometimes I just ask the Lord to open the eyes and ears of each heart and draw them to the truth.

In this case, God does want the eyes of our heart to be open. He wants us to see with clarity and discernment. But it takes spending time with God to achieve that spiritual twenty-twenty vision. You cannot get there by taking your eyes off of God.

During the pandemic, there were many people who were shedding many tears. The church cried out to God for mercy and healing. I stood in the gap for many who were separated from grandparents because of the virus.

I wonder how many tears have to fall before a person will surrender their heart to the Lordship of Christ? I used to see many tears from time to time growing up in a family with six siblings and two parents.

In previous sermons, many of the members probably know by now that my parents watched television. I realize some Christians do not watch television at all. I think that’s wonderful.

Since Jesus saved my life, I have to use wisdom about things I choose to watch. God certainly does not want me to fill my eyes up with things he disapproves of. But my parents would watch these game shows and their sports teams.

There was an occasion where my mother would watch a movie she referred to as a “tearjerker.” She would make sure she had those tissues nearby. The strange thing is, she would watch that movie more than once.

As a ten-year-old, at the time, I would wonder if she’s ok. Some people love to have a good cry. But is there such a thing as a good cry? When was the last time you cried about anything? Do you think there are people who have never cried?

My mother would refer to some people’s tears as “crocodile tears.” What are crocodile tears? Are they tears from a crocodile? In a medical since our eyes have tears that optometrist call Epiphora. 

Epiphora helps in producing watery eyes. Usually, tears lubricate and protect your eyes. However, this medical term meant nothing to my mother’s disposition when referring to one of her children crying crocodile tears.

My mother would call them fake tears. Sort of how actors do when playing a role in a movie. Crocodile tears refers to a person’s phony display of emotion. I can certainly remember crying those tears when I saw that switch coming.

Just hearing that swoosh sound in the air when I did something wrong that deserved punishment made me cry before my mother would administer that spanking. She would tell me, “Those crocodile tears are not going to help you.” (Smile).

Kids are great at knowing how to get those tears out really fast to maybe reduce the punishment that’s coming. (Smile). Some children are very coy at playing on their parents’ emotions. We can do many things with the eyes God gave us.

My sisters were great at rolling their eyes at you if you did something to make them angry. Siblings are good at shedding those tears to get another sibling in trouble.

I lost count at hearing those phony cries downstairs to my parents, “Mom Todd won’t stop bothering me!” Of course, I was totally innocent of all charges. (Smile). But as we open the living word of God, what does the Bible say about our eyes?

Well, let’s start with God’s eyes first. The Bible describes the eyes of God as being everywhere. Of course, God is Spirit (John 4:24). God does not have a physical body with eyes and ears, or arms and legs. His presence is his omniscience.

The word of God tells us, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3 KJV). Also his word tells us, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8 KJV).

The next two verses after verse 8 tell a different story for those who will not allow the eyes of God to guide them. (Psalm 32:9-10). God encourages us not to be stubborn like horses or mules that have to be controlled by bits and bridles.

Nothing and no one in heaven and on earth can escape being observed by the watchful, all-pervading eyes of the Lord. Adam and Eve were the first ones to try it, and things did not work out well for them.

With his eyes, God sees over the entire earth. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV).

The Bible tells us that God is always paying attention to our needs (Philippians 4:19). He also hears our cry and desires to take care of us with care and gentleness (Psalm 34:15-19).

This great care was shown in evidence time after time. Many people look at God today and say “If God really cares, why is there so much suffered in the world? Why does he allow evil to continue?”

“Why are there more tears than smiles?” The answer is quite simple. Because the world has rejected God and his plan of salvation. It also depends on the prism of what lens you are looking through.

Obviously, I can’t answer all the questions as to why God allows certain things to take place in society. But I do know that evil and sin shall be done away with upon the return of Jesus.

Since God is omniscience, omnipotent, and omnipresent, he is in total control of everything on earth. The Bible tells us the earth is the Lord’s and it is his footstool (Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 66:1).

God’s knowledge is unlimited. Knowing that God is omniscient should encourage us to trust his will, his Word, and his timing through world events. Noah certainly understood and trusted the eyes of the Lord.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8 KJV). God cares and keeps his eyes on the righteous at all times. He has every one if your hairs numbered (Matthew 10:29-31).

He keeps watch over the land and the steps you take. (Deuteronomy 11:11-12; Psalm 121:3-4). Our loving God has eyes that see us as his special treasure. We are also the apple of his eye. Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 32:9-12; Zechariah 2:8-9).

Believers are precious to God (Psalm 116:15); they are his very own children (Psalm 103:13). God saw you before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-18). God’s eyes are greater than the far-reaching technology of man’s microscopes.

☆The Lord’s field of vision is omnidirectional and unrestricted. Nothing we do can be hidden or kept secret from him. Closed doors and locked chambers will not obscure his vision. He sees everything, including our sins (Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 11:4). ☆

The Bible also gives a descriptive view about our Lord and Savior through the eyes of John. (Revelation 1:12-20). Verse 14 says, “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;” (Revelation 1:14 KJV).

Jesus has the same eyes as his Father. (John 14:8-10). How many of you can remember seeing your birth as you came into the world? Silly question, right? How many of you can remember the first tears you ever shed?

Did you know your eyes were not created for tears of sadness? The first time you see the word cry in the Bible is after the transgression of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:10 KJV). And it so happens, this was blood crying out to God.

Imagine all the cries of blood that belong to the unborn that are aborted and throne away. I wonder if those who believe in abortion also carry the mindset, “Am I my unborn keeper?”

The Bible tells us that life is in the blood. The blood is still crying out today more than ever before in our nation. The Hebrew word crieth (tsâ‛aq) means to shriek. To cry, cry out, to call, cry for help.

Is it possible to cry without tears? I remember when my dad disciplined me one time for breaking something in the house. I tried to hide the item in the basement so he wouldn’t find it.

After the punishment, he gave me this look (with eyes of anger) and told me, “I better not see one tear drop fall from your face.” I was too afraid to cry outwardly, but I was sure crying on the inside.

Some of you may have grown up being taught that boys should never allow themselves to cry. That real boys and men should never cry. Today, men are certainly being robbed of their masculinity.

They are told that it’s wrong to carry an emotional soft side. Well, as usual the world’s experts are always wrong when standing next to the Lord Jesus Christ. Born-again men are real men who love Jesus. Do you think Jesus carried a rock hard exterior? I remember a pastor friend of mine told me, Christians should have thick skin but a soft heart. 

Before we look at the personality of Jesus, here’s a little truth about our eyes. Did you know before Adam and Eve sinned against God; they did not know what tears were? Just as they never saw rain, they never saw tears.

Tears usually imply sadness. Of course, God would use the eye ducts to later produce tears as a way of showing remorse for sins committed against him. But God will always attach outward emotions by looking inward at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7).

How many of you can remember when the doctor gave you that first spank on your precious little bottom in the delivery room? Another silly question, right? For some maybe that was your only cry you evercried. However, I doubt it.

But did you know that when Christians are born again, they are spiritually babies in Christ? There is no initial spanking to make us put out that first cry like when we were in the delivery room. Christians no longer live under condemnation (Romans 8:1-10).

Jesus came to dry up those tears and give us eyes to see his salvation. And yet Jesus still understands our suffering while we are in these fleshly corrupt bodies. (Hebrews 4:15; Psalm 103:14-18).

Jesus understands the conditions of our eyes when sadness fills them. When our eyes swell up with tears, he’s there to console and comfort us. (Luke 7:37- 48; Psalm 56:8-9; Jeremiah 9:17-20). God knows every problem and sees every tear. God cares for us.

Jesus showed his deep loving care when Lazarus died towards the family and friends of Martha and Mary. 33} “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

34} And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35} Jesus wept. 36} Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!” (John 11:33-36 KJV). When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he, too, wept openly.

The personality and emotions of Jesus are front and center in his reaction to those filled with grief. In his life on earth he often expressed deep emotion, and we must never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to him.

He understands them, for he experienced them. Be honest, and don’t try to hide anything from your Savior. It reminds me of the song “He knows my name.” Do any of you remember the lyrics?

Here’s a reminder; 🎵 I have a maker, he formed my heart before even time began, my life was in his hands. He knows my name, he knows my every thought, he sees each tear that falls, and he hears me when I call. 🎵

For the believers that have cried out to God and saved up an ocean full of tears, God shall hold them in his hands and replace them with everlasting joy. In the Kingdom to come, we shall rejoice forever. Look and trust God’s promises.

5} “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6} He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6).

There was a very old gospel song my grandmother used to play on the piano. 🎵 Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve; waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. 🎵

Whenever Jesus shows up, he sows the fruit of the Spirit. There is great rejoicing for those who live in the Spirit. “TRY JESUS” saints, be encouraged today by the living word of God.

5} “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 6} And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.” (Psalm 30:5-6 KJV).

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17 KJV).

3} “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4} And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5} And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:3-5 KJV).

Just imagine when you get to heaven (after meeting Jesus) and see the clear beautiful eyes of Jeremiah the prophet. He was given the nickname, “The weeping prophet.” His eyes carried puddles of water praying for Israel.

(Jeremiah 9:1,17-18; 13:17; 14:17; 31:16; Lamentations 1:16; 2:11; 3:48). Jeremiah is no longer weeping but rejoicing. His eyes see the Savior sitting in glory and splendor on his throne. “Hallelujah! I’m ready to rejoice in tears!”

King Hezekiah also experienced the joy of the Lord’s touch on his life. Since Hezekiah did right in the eyes of the Lord, he added fifteen years to his life after Hezekiah received news to get his house in order (that he would die). (2 Kings 18:1-6; 20:1-3; 5-7).

God deeply cares for every aspect of our lives. Nothing is hidden when he sees the tears in our eyes. Jesus cares about our physical sight and our spiritual sight. He opened the eyes of many during his ministry on earth.

Did you know there are blind people whose eyes see better than many who have 20-20 vision? Why? Because physical sight alone cannot see the Kingdom of God.

Many blind born again believers have great spiritual sight. They carry great spiritual vision without seeing the devastating effects that sin has in this nation. What a blessing it will be for them, that the first pair of eyes they will see after death will be Jesus.

We had a young blind man named Chris at our church. He loved Jesus and would praise God enthusiastically during the worship service. I enjoy fellowship with him because he could see many things without seeing.

He had a keen spiritual insight into many things and people during the service. He would pray for people with an amazing discernment into their prayer concerns. God’s blessing was on his eyes and his life.

Jesus showed his power over blindness on many occasions. He healed someone with his own saliva as part of his healing miracle on someone who couldn’t see with his natural eyes (Mark 8:22-25).

He also healed another man’s physical sight, but later healed his spiritual sight. (John 9:5-7). Notice the progression of this man’s spiritual healing. (John 9:11, 17, 35-39). Do you see the spiritual growth coming to fruition?

First he referred to him as somebody named Jesus. He had heard about Jesus but didn’t know Jesus. Has that ever happened to you? Thinking just because your eyes see someone doesn’t mean you actually know them.

It was just the opposite for the eyes of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They thought they had clear vision concerning the law. But Jesus said they were blind. Sin keeps a life blind (John 9:40-41). They were blind leaders leading the blind (Matthew 15:12-15).

Many religious people make the claim of knowing Jesus, but do not having a living spiritual relationship with him. Their eyes are no different than the Pharisees and Sadducees (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 3:17-19).

So, how do you view yourself with those precious eyes God has given you when you look in the mirror? Do you appreciate how the designer created you?

There are many people in our nation today that are confused and depressed about how they view themselves. They feel they are supposed to be a boy or a girl. They feel the need to identify as anything other than how God sees them.

Who do you suppose has sent this delusional attack against their minds? Again, they can read (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The Good News is open and revealed to everyone, except to those who refuse to believe it. (John 1:4-9; 3:18-21).

Satan, “the god of this world,” works to deceive, and he has blinded those who don’t believe in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). The allure of money, power, and pleasure blinds people to the light of Christ’s Good News.

Those who reject Christ and prefer their own pursuits have unknowingly made Satan their god. When people turn away from the identity God has created them for, Satan uses their own eyes (The window of the soul) against them.

How many heartbreaking stories have you heard about women who look in the mirror and suffer from bulimia because they see something in the mirror they don’t love. Pray for them. God always sees them as his beautiful masterpiece.

Beauty will always be in the eyes of the beholder. God said after creating us in his image that we were “Very good!” (Genesis 1:27-31). Beloved, no matter how you may negatively see yourself, God sees you as his special treasure. (Psalm 139:13-18; Exodus 19:5).

I’ve always wondered how a big powerful God could align all the solar systems in place, place the sun in the exact location, create everything on the planet earth, but then make a mistake in applying gender to someone.

It just doesn’t add up. God has left too many truths, facts, and perfection in his word about creationism. When Jesus transforms any life by the Holy Spirit’s power, they are given eyes to see the Savior. (Psalm 33:18; Job 34:20-22; Proverbs 5:21; 1 Peter 3:12).

Please read aloud the last verse in (1 Peter 3:12). Notice the last sentence, …“but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” In this world, we all weep and shed tears. (Ecclesiastes 3:4). But as I mentioned earlier, God shall wipe away the believer tears.

But the eyes of the wicked that have rejected the Lord and his salvation, shall continue to weep and cry after leaving this earth. (Matthew 8:11-12; 13:37-43; 49-50; 2 Peter 2:12-15).

[The Greek word weeping (klauthmos) means a weep of wailing and Lamentations. In the New Testament loud mourning and crying were customary when a person died (Mark 5:37-38).

The lack of such a reaction was the ultimate disgrace and sign of disrespect. Some people, usually women, made mourning a profession and would be paid by a dead person’s family to weep over the body.]

But those who reject Jesus and open their eyes in hell will suffer an eternity of weeping and tears of fire falling from their faces. However, there is good news while you may be reading or listening to this sermon.

You can take those eyes and turn tears and turn them into repentance with godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). This is the approach Ezra took by setting the standard of what true repentance meant towards God (Ezra 10:1-3).

[His weeping brought others to the point of sorrow. My friends, the Bible does advocate tears. God made them for a reason. We are certainly to experience joy and happiness in this world, but scripture clearly also teaches that there is a time for tears.]


🗣📢 Last words: Jesus cried, and so can we. This world has plenty of pain, hurt, trouble, and toil. God gave us a way to combat those things, tears. We should not fear tears, because they can be a weapon used against Satan.

God sees your tears every day. God can use your repentant tears to bring healing. Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.

The God who said, “Blessed are you who weep now” (Luke 6:21), will not reproach you for the tears you shed as you walk through the ruins of this broken nation. The concerned and compassionate eyes of the Lord are always on us, penetrating even our darkest night.

[Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy when we plant them in trust of God’s sovereign plan. God can always bring good out of tragedy. When burdened by sorrow, know that your times of grief will end and that you will again find joy.]

From the moment we are conceived and every day thereafter, he sees us. The Lord keeps his eyes on his children to protect and preserve them and lead them home. Set your eyes on heaven’s throne. (Colossians 3:1-3; Hebrews12:2).

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 KJV). It’s time for your next spiritual eye examination. Make this one with Jesus!


📕 More salve for your eyes. Psalm 126:5; Psalm 6:6; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 42:3; Psalm 102:9; Psalm 119:136; 2 Kings 20:5; Lamentations 2:18; Luke 7:44; 2 Corinthians 2:4; Philippians 3:18;



🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to trade in those tired eyes of sin. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this timing message I needed to hear. My tears have been misplaced. Please remove the scales of darkness from my eyes.

I’ve been crying for far too long without any hope of things changing in my life. Lord, there’s so much pain, agony, grief, hurt, and loss around me. I just want things to be okay again; to be happy and for my life to be filled with joy.

Father, please help me to fix my eyes and heart right on Jesus, and on His face. Help me to gaze at Jesus without taking my eyes off him, no matter how many stormy waves assail me. And as I do, please give me peace, stability, and strength.

Fill me with joy again. Fill me with joy and peace in believing. Fill me with the fullness of joy that comes only from being in your presence, I ask, in Jesus’ name. Lord, I repent of my sins and anger towards you.

Work in me to turn my attention toward you in all things. I put my hope and my confidence in you right now. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. And it’s in Jesus’ lovely name I pray, amen.”



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“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley

Worship Center Ministry