New Year. New Lenses.
Physically, our human eyes are incapable of seeing God. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that only by being born again through faith will we truly see the Kingdom. He will tell us on the sermon in Matthew 5 that only when we are pure in heart can see God.
The work of faith is to keep our eyes fixed on the unseen: Paul said to the Corinthian church, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." To do this means we keep a pure heart, a heart reborn by the Spirit. If we see limitations, setbacks, hardships, disappointments and dead ends, our heart that is pure can see beyond the earthly and see the heavenly hope around us.
That said, every one of us can still lose sight. In the book of Job, Job describes how his sight grew dim with grief as he experienced distress. In the book of Isaiah, the people are said to have lost sight of God and turned to distractions, idols. "Their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand."
The Great Physician knows this and is always ready to prescribe the latest corrective lenses.
He will shine light into your heart, awaken you to see life as it truly is.
He will rekindle in you the fire of his love.
Pray today that the eyes of your heart be renewed. Be ready to look upon yourself and others with compassion, mercy and gentleness. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
