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.

Midweek: The Celebration Continues!

I was privileged this past Sunday to be present when a young man from our fellowship shared a beautiful meditation he composed. I hope it touches you as it touched many of us on Resurrection Sunday:

Here is a poem to celebrate the extraordinary event of Jesus' resurrection:

In the dawn of a new day, hope emerged,

From the darkness of the tomb, life surged.

With triumphant power, death was defeated,

As Jesus, our Savior, rose, fully completed.

Behold, the stone rolled away with grace,

Revealing an empty tomb, an empty space.

The chains of sin and sorrow shattered,

By the Son of God, whose love never faltered.

From death's grip, Jesus emerged in glory,

Writing a new chapter in salvation's story.

The grave could not hold Him, nor its might,

For He is the Resurrection, the true Light.

Oh, the joy that fills our hearts on this day,

As we celebrate the One who paved the way.

His sacrifice, a gift of love so profound,

In His resurrection, eternal hope we found.

Through Him, we find redemption's embrace,

A promise of eternal life and God's grace.

Let every voice rise in joyful refrain,

Proclaiming Jesus' resurrection, forever reign!

So, let us gather on this special morn,

With hearts uplifted and spirits reborn.

For Jesus conquered death, sin, and strife,

And offers us everlasting, abundant life.

Rejoice, oh souls, in this wondrous truth,

The resurrection of Jesus, our living proof,

That in Him, we find forgiveness and peace,

And in His presence, our souls find release.

On this Resurrection Sunday, let us adore,

The One who gives us life forevermore.

With grateful hearts, we join the glorious hymn,

Proclaiming Jesus Christ, our risen King, with vim!

May this poem inspire you to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with joy and gratitude. May His victory over death fill your heart with hope and assurance of His everlasting love. Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Praise Jesus whose resurrection is cause for celebration each and every day!

But They Didn't See Him

Some of our friends went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.

~ Luke 24:24 CJB

The news of Jesus' murder days before had spread throughout Jerusalem. As two of His disciples walked to Emmaus, talking about recent events, they encountered a man who inquired about their conversation. Luke tells us this man was Jesus Himself, but their eyes were "restrained" from seeing Him. They tell Him how Jesus, the One they believed to be their Deliverer, was handed over by the Jewish authorities to the Romans to be crucified. We were hoping it was He who was going to redeem Israel. (v.21) Their hopes, it appeared, had been dashed. The speaker went on, however. Today is the third day since these things happened. The third day, according to some Talmud, was the "cut-off:" the soul remained near the body three days in hopes of being brought back to life in the physical world (Tanhuma, Miqetz 4; Pequdei 3); if it didn't happen, the soul journeyed on to God (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 90b-91a). Surely, He was dead. The third day was also the day Jesus prophesied His resurrection and pronounced Himself risen! Surely, this would happen. Readers can almost hear the conflict in this man's voice as he relates all of this to Jesus. We thought...but...then again... 

Lastly, the men tell their "uninformed" companion of "certain women" who had gone to the tomb early in the morning. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (v. 23) Legally, the testimony of women was worthless, so some members of the male persuasion went to check it out. But Him they did not see. (v.24) Confirmed, official, verified, but if not in the grave, where? Standing right before them! This guest they'd assumed was so clueless --Have you been living under a rock?! they ask (v. 18) --the man to whom they'd related the events and their aspirations, this man was the One they sought. Right before their eyes! And He was asking their perspective of the prior three days! They didn't even recognize the One of whom they told. They didn't even recognize the One for whom they longed. They didn't even recognize the One in whom they'd hoped. But He asks the content of their thoughts, their hearts. What things are troubling you? Why are you sad? (v. 17-19) It could all be so funny if it wasn't so true, for them and for us today.

This God, who created galaxies and gravity, dinosaurs and dung beetles, ecosystems and electricity, laughter and livermorium, rivers and respirations, fingerprints and fireflies --this God wants a relationship with His creation. And He sent His Son to live with us, to die for us, to rise from the grave as proof to us. Jesus isn't the one who's clueless here. Jesus isn't the one who can't see. Just like these followers of His who heard His voice, who saw His face, who breathed in His scent, but did not recognize Him, we stumble around in the dark wondering where is Jesus. Where is the Jesus who is supposed to be helping me through this divorce? Where is the Jesus who is supposed to heal me? Where is the Jesus who is supposed to pay these bills? Jesus has not abandoned us, and He still wants to know our hearts; His Spirit still sneaks up alongside us, encouraging us to speak to Him. But where are we looking for Him? In an empty tomb? On the golf course? At the bottom of a bottle? In another column of zeroes in our bank account? In another person? 

Jeremiah 29:13 says, And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. God spoke these words through Jeremiah to a people with no access to online Bibles or church websites or printing presses. We have so many places in which to "find" the truth about our Creator, yet we seek Him less and less. I would encourage you to seize this promise, seek Jesus through prayer and Bible reading. Ask Him to direct your steps to upright Bible teaching. Surrender all your preconceived notions at the foot of the cross and plead with the Holy Spirit to open your eyes. Know that Jesus is here, willing and waiting for you to see Him in all His glory.