“Therefore, we don’t lose heart…
for what is seen is temporary,
for what is seen is temporary,
but
what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18
Personal
illustration: Our precious dog, Kassi, awoke blind on 1-2-13.
We
are heartbroken watching her bang into things, but also realize it’s Kassi’s
choice to either 1) carry around her blindness as baggage, or 2) learn to adapt
and navigate in a new way with her other senses.
This
same kind of scenario exists with people.
Let’s
look at sightlessness in two different groups of people. (Not physical
blindness, yet blindness nonetheless):
Unbelievers: The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
that they cannot see. 2Cor. 4:4 However, when He is genuinely asked, God
opens a person’s eyes, forgives his sin, turns him from darkness to light, and
grants him (or her) eternal inheritance through faith in Him. ~YES, Jesus opens the eyes of the blind, frees the
captives and oppressed from prison, and releases those who sit in dark dungeons. (Acts 26:18; Is. 42:7; Lk. 4:18)
Believers: Believers too are
utterly blind in particular arenas of our lives. Yet if we CHOOSE, through
prayer and seeking God for understanding, His Spirit opens our eyes to a new
way of perceiving, thinking and discerning. Jesus opens up “a whole new world”
to those who diligently seek Him.
David
found this certainty as he prayed, “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in
Your instructions. Give me understanding,
that I may learn Your commandments. Give
me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. Give me understanding
according to Your word, and give
me understanding, and I shall live.
“ (Ps. 119:18,
73, 125, 169, 144)
Seeing
through God’s eyes and heart (and not merely our eyes) allows us to “see” other
people and circumstance through God’s lenses and perspectives.
Question: What difficult
relationship or circumstance are you amidst right now? Why not seek the Creator
of all and gain His insight into what is REALLY going on (versus our
misperceptions based on what we physically see)?
This
new year, let’s “discard the baggage”, seek the One who knows all and all, and become
skilled at navigating this life with Divine eyes.
Much
love and hugs,
Shaun
and Betsy
