Looking beyond

"while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Cor 4:18

I was recently reading and came across a statement that went something like this, "The greatest tragedy is not being blind or deaf, but having eyes that look, but fail to see and ears that hear, yet fail to listen" I was immediately draw to evaluate that statement at a higher level. God's Spirit was using this simple statement to press me to do several things.

First, humble myself and ask God to open my eyes once again to his purposes in this world. It wasn't that I had shut my eyes completely, I had simply allowed them to lose focus. It's a really easy process to allow our eyes to focus on "things which are seen", trust me.

Secondly, I had to tune in again! In order to do this, I needed to revisit an earlier time in my life when surrender came easier. A time when distractions and comforts were minimized and welcomed, Christ was all to me.

This was all in preparation for God to do something else in my heart. What? To experience something so grand and wonderful that it it is still hard to talk about without tears. See, God is always wanting for us to see(not just look) beyond ourselves and see what He wants us to see and see it as if He were looking through our eyes.

He himself was "moved" by what he saw. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (Matt 9: 36)

What was it that I had to see? I had to see the life of Christ wonderfully manifesting itself in the lives of people who only had HIM. Pilgrims and strangers (refugees) that were hungry, not just for food and shelter, but Christ! He was their hope and life. Many of them had walked thousands of miles to find freedom from oppression and persecution and they found HIM. Like water to a thirsty soul they drank in truth and honestly I felt like a pigmy among giants. I have had the wonders of grace operating in my life now for 30 years, and where was my hunger for Christ?

I had settled for a settled for life. Trapped by western life and comfort. My expectations for this life were way out of context.

My only prayer for myself now is that I not "shrink" back from Him ever again; that I follow His call fully. That I my know Him...



Love Dad