How's the View?

Look in the mirror. Go ahead, do it. That's it, get up real close. Nope, closer. What do you see? Maybe that freckle you've had since you were a kid or that scar you got from shaving. Can you see your feet? How about your belly button? Truth be told, you probably can't see much of yourself. You're just not getting the whole picture. You're seeing a very small part of who you are, even less of what your life is, much less of what your neighbor's life is, much, much less of what the world really is.

God's plan is like that. 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 says:

For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

We think we know how things will go, maybe we have great ideas as to how things should go, but there's so much more we are unable to see right now. 

It's the best thing if I could get this job. 

It would be ideal if he would stop coming around. 

Nothing would be better but for her to be healed.

But God sees more than just the big pores in our nose or the broken blood vessel in our eye or the gap between our teeth. He sees more than just me alone. There's a bigger picture out there and we do ourselves and others a huge disservice when we can't see past our own reflection in the mirror, when we refuse to see past our own situation. If we're being honest, it's more than just a disservice, it's no service at all. How can we be compassionate toward others or help others if we can't stop staring at our own tiny, tiny view in the mirror? How can we keep going if all we see are the imperfections and hopelessness of our immediate situation?

We need a broader perspective. So how do we increase and improve our view? By keeping our eyes on the One who knows. Psalm 119:18 promises there are wonderful things to behold in a life lived in obedience to God. Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Not just reading Scripture and thinking, Wow, isn't that fascinating, but obeying, putting those things into practice. Like taking a stroll around the neighborhood, our view expands as we follow God's commands and put His precepts into practice. Hebrews 12:1-2 says that by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith we can make it to the finish line. We can be free, unencumbered, unburdened; we can run with endurance and our faith can be made complete --our faith will be our eyes and our vision will be made whole. By trusting the One who holds all things in His hands, who has good things planned for us --even if it takes facing bad things, hard things, unappealing things in order to get there! Only when we step away from the mirror, from the view that restricts us, and we cast our eyes on Jesus, the One who makes us free, will we begin to know as we are known and see as we are seen.