"The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, the whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness." (Luke 11:34-35).

             The challenge is both timely and essential in these days-- that we would focused in upon our Lord, His will, His way, His purpose for our life. To have a "single eye" bespeaks of that which is without disease, it is clear, it indicates oneness, without self-seeking, because in simplicity and true sincerity our affection is set upon Christ, and things above.  As Paul admonishes us-- "Set your affection (Greek, mind) on things above, not on things on the earth." (Co1.3:2).
             The Greek word translated as "single" is "haplous," a word which Strong's Concordance suggests comes from "alpha" (as a particle of union) and from the base of "pleko" to twine or braid. Thus it speaks of forging a union a oneness, all the loose ends gathered up and brought into harmony of focus upon the Christ for He is the Alpha, and the singular God of all.
            Without a doubt Jesus Christ is the perfect example of one having a single eye, totally focused upon the will of the Father, as He said, "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." (John 5:30). No self-seeking, but in perfect simplicity-- singleness of heart, He sought only to please His Father.
            That the single eye, as revealed in Christ, is the standard, we find in Paul's writing, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtly, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3). The simplicity (Greek, singleness) that is in Christ. That is the archetype, the perfect example, a life without duality. He could not be distracted by the things of this world. He fully conquered, passing every test and trial, and remained focused in upon that which the Father desired of Him. Ever and always, not My will, but Thine, be done. This, while prayed at the end of His earthly life, was obviously  also the foundational beginning of  His manifestation on earth. One does not suddenly come to the climax of total surrender-- but it is an on-going process, as we are changed from glory to glory-- and in that triumphant hour when with all our being we cry out, "Not my will, but Thine, be done, it is because this transition has been worked into us line upon line. Nor does one suddenly have a single eye, after having viewed the world and all of its allure. The process of cleansing is an on-going work of the cross turning our eyes ever more to behold Him, our life, our all.

                                                      Seekest thou for rest, my child? Knowing not which way to turn,
                                                      Fearful lest the Spirit mold thee, Fearful lest the fires burn.
                                                      There's no rest in thy confusion, Good and evil, gold and dross,
                                                      But the twain for thee are parted-- Separated at the cross.
                                                      Struggle not against the rending, 'Tis but God at work in thee,
                                                      Yield unto the bitter process, Death but sets thy spirit free.
                                                      Free from fetters which entangle, Free from self-hood's subtle snare,
                                                      'Tis not loss-- but gain forever, Purest love, thy treasure rare.

            It was Paul's desire that he might present those to whom he ministered, "as a chaste virgin to Christ." He did not want them to become corrupted-- to lose their virginity of spirit-- that pureness-- that oneness of  belonging only to Christ. He would safe-guard them from the entrapment of duality, to see both evil and good-- and then forever trying to discern which was which, imbibing the corruptness of the world, while trying to walk upright before the Lord, and then continually trying to excuse the mixture, as if somehow God might be pleased to receive this unholy concoction of flesh an spirit, darkness and light. O, how we need to be careful lest we become so corrupted, and no longer have an eye single to our Lord.
             We note that in Malachi 2:15, we are admonished "take heed to your spirit" because God desires to join Himself to our spirit in oneness, and then to produce A HOLY SEED, an enchristed (anointed) body of which He is the Head. Therefore He is doing a purifying work within, that we might be "vessels meet for the Master' s use." (Tim. 2: 21).
             Revelation 14:3-5 speaks of this company as being "redeemed from the earth. These are they which are not defiled with women (religious systems); for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are with out fault before the throne of God."
            That it is possible for God to bring forth just such a first fruits company, a people with an eye single to His glory, is assured, for it is HIS WORK WITHIN US, and He "is able to keep you from falling (Greek, stumbling), an to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." ( Jude 24).
             A chaste virgin-- one that had not been corrupted from the SIMPLICITY, THE SINGLENESS of Christ. Then Paul went on in the next verse to explain just what he had in mind, when he said someone could come along, as actually was the case, and "apparently you cheerfully accept a man who comes to you preaching a different Jesus from the One we told you about, and you readily receive a spirit and a gospel quite different from the ones you originally accepted." (2 Cor. 11:4, Phillips). No wonder Paul feared they were being corrupted-- "seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ." (Amplified).
            This has often amazed me through the years, how blindly tolerant people are, or how quick and ready they are to receive and welcome another Jesus, another gospel, another spirit, which all blend together to corrupt and draw us away from a steadfast focus of a single eye toward God.
             A " Jesus " that is preached out of the figment of the carnal mind will be but a caricature of the true. That which is warped and shapened  by the concepts of men often becomes a gross distortion of the truth. Truly, as the prophet declared, "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." (Isa. 52:14). While we realize that there was a certain marring of His body with the crucifixion, yet for sure, the greater depth of meaning here is how men have marred His visage-- they have portrayed Him to be something He is not-- describing Him as a vengeful God harsh, brutal, uncompassionate. Thank God for the revelation He is imparting to His people in this day, that He is LOVE, HOLY, JUST, TENDER. He is forceful, yes; powerful, yes; but always merciful and gracious, using every corrective process to restore us into His righteousness, that we might be partakers of His holiness, and enjoy His more abundant life.
           The revelation of Jesus Christ, as revealed by the holy Spirit, is often so very different than the "man" that is set forth by the carnal mind. People concoct false images designed to justify their own wickedness, excuse their lusts and passions, foster their own pride, and give place for all the sin that does so easily beset them. Gone is the vision of holiness of which we are to be partakers, gone is the inworking of the cross to end their carnal ways, gone is the single eye that seeks only to exalt Him. It is "another Jesus" than the One the Scriptures reveal, and it is highly corrupting.
             With what blatant brashness men declare "another gospel" which is not GOOD NEWS at all, but is very accommodating to the flesh. The gospel of escapism has nothing in common with the truth of OVERCOMING. The fact that God has placed in our pathway those things which develop our rising up in Him to overcome, soon becomes a forgotten principle. The desire to escape all suffering, escape all testing and trial, difficulty and hardship, causes men to formulate a false doctrine of deliverance. It caters to the itching ear of those who are more than willing to build men's kingdoms and finance all the programs wherein the flesh might glory-- boasting in themselves.
             The "gospel of devils," demonology, etc. has nothing in common with truth of God's sovereignty. Paul wrote, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall DEPART FROM THE FAITH, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (1 Tim. 4:1).
             One Bible Scholar, by the name of Mede, of long ago, states, "Not that the demons were the authors of them (though that may be true) but doctrines concerning demons." It is amazing in these days how much DEPARTING FROM THE FAITH in the sovereignty of God is taking place, and people are being taught another gospel-- one of demonology, rather than ascribing greatness to our God. Furthermore, these doctrines concerning devils are not solid "Bible truth," but are conjured up by the minds of men, who blend truth with fantasy, until they often will end up, however unwittingly, to giving glory to this imagined devil realm. Yes, the Bible does speak of demons, satan, etc. but in a way that places all these negative powers as being subservient to God. For, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness there- of." The more we have a single eye, to exalt our God, the less we will speak of these negative servants of God. There is a departing from the faith, the faith that God alone is GOD, to accept much of the current teaching concerning devils. Furthermore, we are persuaded that you cannot be GOD-CONSCIOUS and devil-conscious at the same time. If your eye be evil-- i.e. filled with visions, doctrines of evil-- gloom, despair, etc, then your body will be full of darkness. But when your eye is single to the glory, holiness, omnipotence of God, your being will be full of light.
             For sure, the  "gospel " of saving only a few, and damning the majority of mankind to some eternal hell, has nothing in common with the truth of His salvation for all men, His love for all the world, His plan of the ages that consummates with all things fully reconciled again. Thank God for His "generous grace which has overflowed into our lives and opened our eyes to the truth. For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposes in His sovereign will that all human history shall consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in Heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him." (Eph. 1:8-10, Phillips).
            The Weymouth translation is also beautiful: "And this is in harmony with God's merciful purpose for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it-- the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him." O, Hallelujah!
            The word "gospel" literally means "GOOD NEWS," therefore in its truest sense all of this "other gospel" is NOT good news at all, for it limits its good news to save a favorite few, those who join a particular organization or cult, who hold this particular view which is preached concerning another Jesus. For most men they have a message of doom, destruction, and death.
            And the tragedy is that there is also ANOTHER SPIRIT which accompanies this "another Jesus with another gospel." It is a spirit that condemns all who do not receive it. It is a spirit that exalts the self of those who do.  It is a spirit that blinds, binds, enslaves, and deprives those who receive  it, so that they cannot enjoy the glorious freedom of the life of Christ.
             Simplicity, or singleness, is the quality of being uncompounded, it is a lack of duplicity. It is a ONENESS that God desires from us-- not by our joining ourselves together, accepting everyone regardless of their personal concepts, and ignoring the other gospel which they embrace, but it is a oneness that begins by our being JOINED UNTO JESUS CHRIST IN ONE SPIRIT. Only in the measure that we are all joined unto this one Head, our Lord Jesus Christ, can we truly be one with His corporate body. THE SINGLE EYE unto Christ is the foundation for all ONENESS to be fulfilled in us.
             In the phrase "the simplicity (singleness) that is in Christ," we note the word  "in" used here, is the Greek word "eis" meaning "INTO." So what Paul is really saying to us is-- "I do not want anything to corrupt you from your singleness of going INTO Christ." This is a process, a progressive walk of going from strength to strength, from glory to glory, until we shall be "FOUND IN HIM." We are BELIEVING INTO HIM, and there are many voices in the world that would cause us to waver, swerve to one side, miss the mark, if we would give heed to them. Many corrupting influences that we dare not give place unto, lest we be defiled. But maintaining a single eye in the midst of all earth's turmoil results in stronger overcomers in Christ, and thus HE IS, and WILL BE glorified through His people.
             James 1:18 tells us that "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. The words "double minded" could actually be translated as "two souled." I speaks of one trying to MIND THE SPIRIT and MIND THE FLESH at the same time. Partly inclined to the Spirit realm to see Jesus, heavenly things, and partly inclined to the world, to satisfy fleshly desires. Two souled, one mind for God, one mind for the world-- they do not properly belong to either realm. This duplicity is an unclean state-- and men need to be purged, cleansed from that which divides and pulls them away from the singleness of going into Christ, into His perfection, and fullness of light.
          Evil is good perverted! When you have both good and evil, it is a duality and Paul describes the state like this-- "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind..." (Rom. 7:22-23). Only by yielding to the Spirit of God could he gain victory over such a wretched state. It takes a single eye to bring a freedom from such duality. What singleness of heart is require if we would flow into Christ, to become one in Him. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
             "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people." (Acts 2:46).
             Divided affections will destroy your gladness. But there is something else to be noted here, and that is the linking together of temple worship with eating bread in the house. This was not two separate lives, but a daily living in singleness of heart. Some would call the temple part, spiritual and breaking bread at home, secular; but that only results in confusion. When there is singleness of heart all the way, both the temple and the dinner meal are one continuous life before the Lord-- lived in gladness. dare say, I have seen some meals which were far more "spiritual" than some of the money-raising, carnal entertainment sessions in the temple. But where there is a singleness of heart, with Christ pre-eminent in all that we do and say, it is all one life-- HIS!
             "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity (singleness) and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation (Greek, behavior) in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." (2 Cor. 1:12).
             What a testimony of the conscience-- knowing that his behavior in the world was not a masquerade, not trying to appear spiritual, not trying to appear worldly sophisticated, but in godly sincerity living by the grace of God, whether before the world, or before other Christians. It was not a special appearance for the world, and another for the "church folk," but it was a singleness-- with God's grace controlling all of his behavior.  Every day could then be lived singly unto the Lord-- not with ups and downs, not wit: spiritual moments and worldly moments-- but a consistent living to the glory of God with a single eye.
             Our inner life is "not of this world," for it is "CHRIST IN YOU," and He said, "I am not of this world." (John 17:14). Why would we manifest some form of expression that is of this world (conforming to its image), but have a different life on the inside? Ah, we are slowing learning the secret of just BEING, for we are what we are by the grace of God. No need to be condemned for not manifesting perfection when He has not yet finished His work in us. Nor ought we to put on a worldly masquerade over the change He has wrought within. But in singleness of heart and mind we desire to manifest His life as He works it in us-- fully without any pretense or affectation-- but in sincerity and truth we can live out the measure of His life that He has imparted to us. Not falsely boasting of ourselves, but the glory of His grace we would lift Him up by both word and deed.
             "Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. " (Col . 3 :22-23).
             Any person that sells his time to another, working for a wage, owes that one his full time and ability to perform the job well. However, Paul goes on to teach some important things concerning our motives in our service, that it is not just to be as "men pleasers," just to court the favor of the boss, but we have an even more exacting motive, IN SINGLENESS OF HEART, FEARING GOD, doing our work heartily AS UNTO THE LORD. Thus again we see that the single eye, the singleness of heart, is to pervade every part of our life, home, marriage, work, pleasure time, etc. This is a processing which shall prepare us for the greater dimensions to come. It is amazing how God uses the nitty-gritty of every day to challenge and perfect us.
             Interesting to read-- "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." (2 Cor. 8:2). Liberality-- Greek here is singleness. Afflictions and poverty have a way of stripping away all the pretense and the masquerades. Everyone is reduced to a common need for survival. And it has been the experience of our forefathers that as pioneers they faced their hardships together, and though reduced in circumstances at times that they could scarcely maintain their own needs, yet when a greater need came along, they liberally shared out of their poverty-- in a singleness to sustain life.
             Take this into spiritual dimensions. He strips us of all our carnal/human resources wherein the flesh would boast. Reputation, fame, etc. are all laid upon the altar, as we go without the camp, bearing His reproach. And then as His life and love flow into us, we freely give unto all men-- not holding in reserve for a favored few, for love reaches out to embrace all- rejoicing in His ultimate salvation for every man. The single eye of love the single eye of compassion, does not selectively chose one here and there to minister to, but desiring to see only as Christ sees, we embrace all, to do HIS WILL as He reveals it to us, even when it is out of our nothingness that we see His life flow forth to encourage and strengthen another.
             I dare say, we will never know the full glory of His riches until first we have been identified with HIS POVERTY-- poverty in the sense that we have to be emptied of all self-- and whatever self trusted in-- that in a true singleness of heart we might wholly be joined unto our Lord. If there be any carryover reserves of the flesh whereon we might rely, we will not fully trust Him: Even if there are spiritual gifts and graces that self has come to rely upon, instead of Christ, then we will have to face more stripping until, naked before Him we have nothing left to cover us bu His love and grace, and then He alone becomes our sufficiency.
             What is it that will cause others to desire the grace of God that is on us It is when they see this true SINGLENESS INTO CHRIST. The message will be clear, He is our life-- not the preacher, not the temple, not men, CHRIST!

                                                         If any man would have a single eye for Christ--
                                                         A son of God, creation new, firstfruits of salvation true,
                                                        Then all of self must be denied, identity be laid aside,
                                                                --That Christ alone might be supreme!

                                                        If Christ shall be supreme, filling all in all--
                                                        Then every hill shall be laid low, and every mountain have to go,
                                                        Exalting of the flesh shall cease, and in their place divine increase,
                                                                --To manifest the grace of God.

                                                        If God's pure grace abounds beyond the darkest sin,
                                                        Then grace, not works, shall bring thee life, and quell the atmosphere so rife,
                                                        The carnal mind nailed to His cross, that out of its full death and loss
                                                                 --A greater mind shall be in thee.

                                                         If it shall be His mind enveloping thy soul--
                                                         Then every action of thy will, with all its reason, be made nil,
                                                         While He doth will His will in thee, to birth that blest reality
                                                                 --Which brings invisible to sight.

                                                         If unseen realms come forth to manifest His love--
                                                         Then love shall conquer every foe, until the world shall surely know
                                                         That with your eye single to God, you'll be redeemed from mortal clod,
                                                                  --Becoming one with Christ our Lord!                 Praise God, and amen!
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(1)Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"  Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822

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