Recently, the day occurred that I had been putting off for several years. Since the day I was at the BMV getting my driver's license renewed four years ago. As part of the renewal process, I needed to be able to read some lines for the vision test. The figures looked blurry and I was unable to read them correctly. Susan thought to herself "I am not planning on driving him everywhere". That day, we resolved that glasses were in my future.
Four years later (or mere months before my recent renewal), I finally got around to getting that eye exam to determine if I really needed glasses. Yes, I move quickly on things I don't want the answers to. Suffice to say, I now have to wear glasses to see things at a distance. Reading things closely is fine - but things get more blurry the further they get.
After a week of wearing the glasses, I noticed how blurry my surroundings were without the glasses. Things I thought I saw clearly earlier were now not so clear. It was astonishing to see the differences between the two views. I can still see things without glasses but it takes more time to focus and see. There is a definite difference between wearing and not wearing glasses.
The thing about glasses is that they correct your vision to help you see more clearly.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Paul is pointing out the current state of our lives. Because of sin and a fallen world, we are not seeing God fully. Like a reflection, there is some blurriness and not the actual image. We are looking at God with blurry vision. When things are blurry and out of focus, we miss things and do not get a complete image of what we are viewing. In the same way, we do not have a full picture of God, yet. Paul points out that in the future, we shall see Him face to face. This is a message of hope. We will then know Him fully just as He knows us fully currently.
There are two paths we can go down knowing our current limited view of God. Disappointment perhaps because we're not seeing it all. Yes, we are told of future hope, but a lot of us want instant gratification. So, I can see there being some disappointment.
I, however, am taking a different view (blurry though it may be). Think on your life at all the amazing things God has done for you. Remember the times you saw God working, the prayers answered, the miracles, the healings. You have heard Him speak and seen Him move. Think of the dreams and visions and prophecies you may have experienced. Keep in mind, we are seeing all of this with our visions obscured of God. Like a tinted window blocking our view, maybe even more blurry and obstructed like we are suffering from glaucoma. Yet, we still see a lot of His glory right now. Maybe, even excited by that.
Imagine, we are seeing just a fraction of who God is and what He does and we are already full of awe. We give glory and honor based on just our limited view of Him. Imagine what that will look like when we see Him fully!!!
It's hard for me to fathom how much greater God is. I think He is pretty awesome and amazing right now. It's also pretty humbling to think about as well. Because of our limited view, we can compartmentalize God or not see the full picture. This can lead to us missing out on so much. Part of our human condition, yes, but not an excuse to not seek Him more. It's not like God is hiding from us. He is in plain view, all around us to see. It is our sinful nature and vision which is the problem. Yet, despite all of our obstacles - we glorify God for what we do see.
That's what keeps me going. I have seen enough to know I want and need more of Him. Though I do not see clearly, He is still able to pierce through that and show me more than I ever knew. This speaks to the greatness of God and not human hands. He reveals much and helps us to understand despite our limitations. That's the God we serve. This gives us hope. Though I wear glasses now, I am still somewhat blind.
Though we see not clearly, we are still called to reach others in this life. Not wait till the day we see God clearly. Hence, where the focus of our vision needs to be. On God, on Him alone. This will clarify our vision, giving us a hope and a path to follow along on. Better than the best pair of eyeglasses. We are being given a taste of what is yet to come.
Four years later (or mere months before my recent renewal), I finally got around to getting that eye exam to determine if I really needed glasses. Yes, I move quickly on things I don't want the answers to. Suffice to say, I now have to wear glasses to see things at a distance. Reading things closely is fine - but things get more blurry the further they get.
After a week of wearing the glasses, I noticed how blurry my surroundings were without the glasses. Things I thought I saw clearly earlier were now not so clear. It was astonishing to see the differences between the two views. I can still see things without glasses but it takes more time to focus and see. There is a definite difference between wearing and not wearing glasses.
The thing about glasses is that they correct your vision to help you see more clearly.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Paul is pointing out the current state of our lives. Because of sin and a fallen world, we are not seeing God fully. Like a reflection, there is some blurriness and not the actual image. We are looking at God with blurry vision. When things are blurry and out of focus, we miss things and do not get a complete image of what we are viewing. In the same way, we do not have a full picture of God, yet. Paul points out that in the future, we shall see Him face to face. This is a message of hope. We will then know Him fully just as He knows us fully currently.
There are two paths we can go down knowing our current limited view of God. Disappointment perhaps because we're not seeing it all. Yes, we are told of future hope, but a lot of us want instant gratification. So, I can see there being some disappointment.
I, however, am taking a different view (blurry though it may be). Think on your life at all the amazing things God has done for you. Remember the times you saw God working, the prayers answered, the miracles, the healings. You have heard Him speak and seen Him move. Think of the dreams and visions and prophecies you may have experienced. Keep in mind, we are seeing all of this with our visions obscured of God. Like a tinted window blocking our view, maybe even more blurry and obstructed like we are suffering from glaucoma. Yet, we still see a lot of His glory right now. Maybe, even excited by that.
Imagine, we are seeing just a fraction of who God is and what He does and we are already full of awe. We give glory and honor based on just our limited view of Him. Imagine what that will look like when we see Him fully!!!
It's hard for me to fathom how much greater God is. I think He is pretty awesome and amazing right now. It's also pretty humbling to think about as well. Because of our limited view, we can compartmentalize God or not see the full picture. This can lead to us missing out on so much. Part of our human condition, yes, but not an excuse to not seek Him more. It's not like God is hiding from us. He is in plain view, all around us to see. It is our sinful nature and vision which is the problem. Yet, despite all of our obstacles - we glorify God for what we do see.
That's what keeps me going. I have seen enough to know I want and need more of Him. Though I do not see clearly, He is still able to pierce through that and show me more than I ever knew. This speaks to the greatness of God and not human hands. He reveals much and helps us to understand despite our limitations. That's the God we serve. This gives us hope. Though I wear glasses now, I am still somewhat blind.
Though we see not clearly, we are still called to reach others in this life. Not wait till the day we see God clearly. Hence, where the focus of our vision needs to be. On God, on Him alone. This will clarify our vision, giving us a hope and a path to follow along on. Better than the best pair of eyeglasses. We are being given a taste of what is yet to come.
Comments
Post a Comment