Seeing Clearly

 

A couple months ago I was preparing for cataract surgery.  I was going to get new artificial lenses inserted into my eyes.  I knew someone who had already had the procedure.  I asked them what they thought about it.  "Your eye will have a gleam in it afterwards."  I was quick to respond, "I hope no-one gets the wrong impression."- trying to make a little joke.  But afterward I thought over their comment.  I wasn't asking how I would LOOK.  I was asking how I would SEE.  I guess that's one of the problems we have in this age we live in.  We are too concerned with appearance and not enough with perception.

 

How we look

 

The prophet Samuel came to Jesse’s family to select the future king of Israel. He looked over all eight sons.  Instead of the tallest and most impressive, Eliab, he chose the youngest and least impressive, David. 

 

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

 

It must be said that David was not ugly, just that he didn't look much like a potential king.  God was selecting based on the hidden quality of his heart.  David, who penned most of the Psalms, had developed a heart for God while shepherding his father's herds.

 

Likewise, the Apostle Paul was unimpressive when it came to his outer appearance.  He appealed to his spiritual children to respect his spiritual authority and listen to his advice.

 

You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. (2 Cor 10:7)

 

Even the Lord Jesus Christ was not known for his striking physical qualities.  The prophet Isaiah gives one of the only descriptions we have of his physical traits.

 

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. (Isa 53:2)

 

Of course, if you have been blessed with an impressive physical appearance, there is nothing wrong with that.  This is a gift from God.  But don't depend on your outward appearance.  Focus on your heart.

 

How we see

 

It's not about how you look, but how well you see.  Sight, spiritual insight, is supremely important. Jesus told us to first take the log out of our own eye so that we may see clearly enough to take the speck out of our brother's eye.  The goal here is to SEE CLEARLY.

 

            “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye^[1] (Mt 7:5)

 

When Jesus called Paul to ministry, Paul’s mission was to open their eyes.

 

 I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, (Acts 26:18a)

 

When praying for the Ephesians, Paul prayed that the "eyes of your heart may be enlightened".

 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (Eph 1:18-19)

 

In a day and age that puts so much emphasis on physical appearance, it's important that we, as Christians, live differently.  It's not just a matter of what you wear, or how you adorn yourself, or how much diligence you show in dieting and exercise.  It's more of an issue on how much effort you put into developing the hidden quality of your heart for God. Are you taking quality time to read and meditate on Scripture.  Are you casting your cares on Him in prayer and interceding for others?  Do you take sacrificial steps to help your fellow man?  Are you asking the Lord to enlighten the eyes of your heart? It's not how good you LOOK, it's how good you SEE.

 

J Oswald Sanders said, "Eyes that look are common; eyes that see are rare."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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^[1] All passages in this post were taken from New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).