What Do You See?
It seems we’ve all heard something like this: “perspective can make all the difference in the world.” Is this really true or just another one of those therapeutic clichés?
We can all agree that a person’s perspective does make a difference and many times a big difference. How you view yourself and the world around you will greatly influence the way you experience life. Are you a person who sees the glass half-empty or half-full? We know the sun never actually rises or sets, yet our perspective makes it appear to. Our sunset is another’s sunrise.
One of my favorite stories about perspective is this letter a college student wrote to her parents:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I have so much to tell you. Because of the fire in my room set by rioting students, I suffered lung damage and had to go to the hospital. While there, I fell in love with an orderly. Then I got arrested for my part in the riots. Anyway, I’m dropping out of school, getting married, and moving to Alaska.
Your loving daughter
PS: None of this really happened, but I did flunk a chemistry class, and I wanted you to keep it in perspective.
I laugh every time I read this letter and yes, it’s not the best way to approach your parents, but it does highlight a great truth: proper perspective matters and this is particularly true in the Christian life.
The Christian life is all about how we see and view life from God’s perspective. It is looking through the lens of eternal truths while living this earthly temporary life. Here are a few considerations to ponder as we all seek some vision corrections that allow us to keep our eyes on God’s eternal perspective.
Paul prayed that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:18–20).
We are told to “keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1b–3).
We are reminded that Abraham stayed faithful “for he was looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10) as was Moses because “he was looking to the reward” (Heb. 11:26).
We are also told “we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).
Following these truths, we can see profound realities that shape our faith, like knowing and believing that our past is wholly forgiven, our present life is completely empowered by the Holy Spirit, and our future is totally secure because of what Christ accomplished for us by His death, burial, and resurrection.
I love how Jerry Bridges offers eternal perspective when he highlights the greatness of our God during times of adversity: “In the area of adversity, the Scriptures teach us three essential truths about God—truths we must believe if we are to trust Him in adversity. They are, God is completely sovereign. God is infinite in wisdom. God is perfect in love. Someone has expressed these three truths as they relate to us in this way, 'God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.'” (Is God Really in Control? Trusting God in a World of Hurt, p. 19).
What are you seeing and where are you looking these days? Step back and keep your spiritual eyes on God’s eternal perspective as you experience the temporary.
Pastor Jeff