The Doorway Effect: Why We're Spiritually Blind Without Knowing It

Have you ever walked through a doorway and completely forgotten what you were doing? Scientists call this the "doorway effect," where our brains reset in response to environmental cues. This common experience raises a profound spiritual question: If we can't trust our minds to remember something from just moments ago, how can we trust our spiritual perception without divine help?

Our spiritual vision is often more unreliable than our memory. We think we see clearly, but in reality, we may be stumbling around spiritually, forgetful of our purpose and losing sight of what truly matters. This is why we need God to open our eyes to see spiritual reality clearly.

In Ephesians 1:15-19, we find a powerful prayer that addresses this very need. It's not a polite request, but a spiritual wake-up call for believers at risk of drifting. The prayer asks God to give us "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." This isn't about acquiring mere information; it's about diving deep into a relationship with God, experiencing His heart in a way that shapes who we are.

J.I. Packer, in his classic book "Knowing God," suggests that those who truly know God have four characteristics: great energy for God, great thoughts of God, great boldness for God, and great contentment in God. This is the kind of vibrant, transformative relationship we're invited into – one that radiates from God's presence like a supernatural glow.

But let's be honest: we're surrounded by idols competing for our hearts. Sometimes they're explicit, sometimes subtle – the pursuit of health, romantic love, self-expression, or curating a perfect image. In our quest to express ourselves and have everything together, we often end up hiding our true selves, exaggerating achievements, suppressing struggles, and chasing superficial validation that ultimately increases our loneliness and anxiety.

This is why praying to know God better is so crucial. It anchors us in His character and invites us to model real faith – faith that's honest about struggles and continually being transformed. Young people with spiritual mentors are significantly more likely to stay engaged in faith as adults. But let's not forget that even as adults, we often look for mentors to model our lives after too.

The prayer in Ephesians asks for three specific realities to be seen:

1. The hope to which He has called you
2. The riches of His glorious inheritance
3. The immeasurable greatness of His power

These aren't separate spiritual experiences, but rather taking something from a flat, 2D understanding to a vivid 3D reality in our lives.

First, the hope of our calling. This isn't just optimism, but a certainty in God's ultimate victory. It's a hope that frees us from cynicism and energizes us for mission. Our culture's crisis fatigue can numb us to God's future, but this hope reminds us that we have a collective calling to build a good world with God for others.

Second, the riches of His glorious inheritance. Interestingly, this can be understood both as our inheritance in Christ and as us being God's inheritance. It's a beautiful synergy – we receive an incredible inheritance (new heavens, new earth, God's presence forever), but we also become God's "crown jewels" as we're transformed by His grace. This fuels a sacrificial, generous way of living that pushes back against consumerism and materialism.

Finally, the immeasurable greatness of His power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in believers! This should embolden us as a church to confront injustice, tangibly love each other, and share Christ fearlessly. In a world debating who holds power and how it should be used, we have access to an immeasurable, divine power that isn't limited to just a few centuries or a preferred political future.

When our spiritual vision matures, we begin to see beyond our immediate problems and limitations. We recognize that the power available to us isn't some innate human ability or total control over circumstances. It's the endless, abundant power of God working through those who believe.

This realization transforms how we approach challenges. Instead of asking, "What if I act and God doesn't show up?" we can boldly ask, "What if I act and He does?" It's a posture of faith and responsiveness, grounded not in fear or self-reliance, but in trust in a good and gracious God.

This power enables us to be a creative minority in our communities – present and prophetic witnesses where we live, work, and play. We may not always have all the answers or resources, but we can trust that God can connect the dots and bring His people together to meet needs and shine His light.

It's easy to think we don't need this revived hope, radical generosity, or empowered witness if life seems stable. But don't be lulled into complacency. Cultivating this depth of spiritual vision prepares us for the inevitable crises and chaos that life brings. It anchors us in something far greater than our own self-sufficiency.

For those struggling to take the next step of faith – battling anxiety, feeling torn by divisions, or disillusioned by false promises of happiness – there's an invitation here. May the eyes of your heart be opened to feel God's love, know your calling, glimpse the eternal inheritance, and experience the Holy Spirit's power in daily life.

This isn't a time for tepid, privatized faith. It's a moment to be bold, to experience God together as a community. As we pray for each other to have this spiritual vision and live it out, we create space for God to work in remarkable ways.

Remember, just as a newborn's vision develops from seeing only 8-12 inches to adult-like clarity across a room, our spiritual sight can grow. We can move from focusing solely on immediate problems to seeing the vast landscape of God's purposes and power available to us.

So let's pray for opened spiritual eyes – for ourselves and for each other. May we know God deeply, live out the hope of our calling, steward the riches of our inheritance, and walk in the immeasurable power He provides. As we do, we'll find ourselves becoming the radiant, transformative community He's called us to be, impacting the world in ways we never imagined possible.