Benjamin Franklin is credited with many inventions: the lightening rod, a stove that bears his name, the glass armonica, American political cartoons, the odometer (see the May 18th devotional), swim fins, and even the urinary catheter. However, one of his most famous inventions was developed on this day in 1785. It’s an invention I depend on every day and many of you reading this do, too.
Ben mailed a letter to a friend in London, George Whatley (by the way, Ben was the first Postmaster General). In this letter, Ben included a sketch of his newest invention. Plato originated a phrase that became “necessity is the mother of invention.” Well, Ben had a need – or a problem. He had to keep switching out his glasses when he wanted to read and when he wanted to look at something far away.
In his letter, Franklin wrote, “Finding this change troublesome…I had the glasses cut, and half of each kind associated in the same circle. By this means, as I wear my spectacles constantly, I have only to move my eyes up or down, as I want to see distinctly far or near, the proper glasses being always ready. ”
“The bifocal sketch came the year after Franklin made a special request to his optician: Slice in half the lenses of his reading glasses and long-distance glasses, then combine them together with the distance lenses on top and reading glasses on the bottom. Franklin called the glasses style “double spectacles,” later known as bifocals.
“Like with his other inventions—including the lightning rod, swim fins and urinary catheter—Franklin had little interest in making money. He wanted his bifocal breakthrough to help other members of the community struggling with vision deterioration. Franklin never patented any of his inventions, intent on sharing them freely.”1 Today, we are the beneficiaries of Franklin’s innovation.
God created us with these wonderful organs called eyes. We can see a hue of colors and shades. We distinguish between light and darkness. And we are able to soak in the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, mountain peaks covered in snow, trees, grass, flowers, birds – the list is endless.
The Psalmist declares in Psalms 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (2) Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. (3) There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” Having eyes that can see these things and appreciate their beauty is a tremendous gift.
Think about the wisemen who came to visit Jesus. Matthew 2:10 says, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” It’s impossible to imagine the joy that came to their hearts through their eyes but they kept their eyes fixed on that star until they reached Jesus.
Now, I know that there are many in our world with sight deficits ranging from reduced vision to total blindness. According to SimplyInsurance, “More than 12 million Americans over the age of 40 have some sort of visual impairment, with 1.3 million legally blind, 3 million who have vision loss after a correction, and 8 million who have an uncorrected refractive error.”
That being said, those with vision deficiencies miss out on much of what those of us without deficiencies often take for granted. However, they have a huge advantage over sighted people. The first thing the born-again Christian will see will be the face of Jesus. The first beauties they will behold will be Heaven.
Every child of God will one day see this scene with perfect vision. Till that day, let the words of Revelation 1:12-18 ignite your heart with excitement for what we will be seeing very soon.
“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; (13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (14) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; (15) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-23/benjamin-franklin-invents-bifocal-glasses
2https://www.simplyinsurance.com/how-many-people-are-blind-in-the-us/
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