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Saturday, January 18, 2014

SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS


By Pastor Walter C. Scott, 10/22/12
Can you conceive of or even imagine the possibility of seeing this world and everything and everyone in it through the eyes of Jesus Christ? Does scripture suggest this is possible or probable? Jesus, Son of God, the creator of this world and the entire universe sees how it was, is, and will be.

Genesis 1:1

The Beginning

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:14-19

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
This planet earth is alive along with everything in and on it. It all has been given to us by God, to use as we decide. Have we been good stewards of God’s gift-- masterpiece that has been and still is, beyond our entire comprehension? As God’s son and sitting at His right hand, Jesus sees everything we have done and are doing. Do you think he would approve? Do you think he will approve? Do you think he would perform the same way we have? Do you think he would treat this earth, our home, and the various peoples on it in the same way we have? My answer to all of these questions is an emphatic, “NO!” I say this with a measure of shame and humility, because I am as guilty as any of abuse, neglect, wrong thinking and action.
Humans are one of many species, but man is the only one that God gave dominion over the earth to. We possess a soul and a spirit. We are responsible and accountable for proper stewardship of ourselves and this earth--everything in it and on it. How would our stewardship be graded from creation to today? Not very well, I think. God could remake or recreate everything all over again if he so desired; but why should he? Would we learn from our past mistakes and not repeat them? Who can say positively? This does however, remind me of a story some parents tell of their children, about how destructive a child is with a gift they haven’t at least partially had to earn by good behavior or have worked for. They have no appreciation or respect, and place no value on it. This leads usually to not taking proper care of it. This is probably because they expect their parents to replace it. This is a lesson some parents neglect to teach their children. Since we are God’s children, we can only hope that God will forego teaching us this lesson.
I am reminded of JFK’s famous statement “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. Now, turn that around and say, “Don’t ask what the Triune God can do for you, ask what you can do for the Triune God.” Is Sunday the only day we should come together to worship and fellowship? I say no. Anywhere, anytime, and place and on any day, we can give thanks and praise God. This planet earth is God’s house. The church is the body of Christ, and we are all members of his body. All believers have the Holy Spirit in them but are still instructed to come together often to support one another.

Hebrews 10: 24 & 25

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

When Jesus looks at us, what does he see? He knows the hearts and minds of us all. And his love and compassion is always present. So what does he see us doing for his kingdom? We all have a place in the body; a purpose and a destiny. He wants us to fulfill our purpose and destiny. He calls us to it. How do we respond? Do we love Jesus? He loves us. Would we do anything he asked us if he appeared right in front of us? I think so.
Reading the words of Paul:
2 Corinthians 4:18:
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
To believe what is not seen is faith. To have faith is to trust and act as we have been commissioned and commanded. BE the good news.
Our goal and commission in this earthly life is to look at this Father-God created world and all his people through the eyes of Jesus Christ-- God’s Son and author of our salvation, redemption and sanctification.

John 14:11-14

11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Acquiring the perspective of Jesus Christ would eliminate all distrust, dissention, all seven deadly sins (anger, envy, gluttony, sloth, pride, lust and greed), and ultimately, war. If we don’t have wars we don’t need the rhetoric or weapons for it. What else could we do with our material wealth? Perhaps restore the earth and its people’s health.
Because we should see through the eyes of Jesus we should see the world as we see our neighbors, as described in Matthew 22:37-40. The love of Jesus has no boundaries or property lines. No particular city, town, county, state, national or lines dividing countries. The world is one people, all deserving God’s grace, love, and provision. Can we have this? Can we share this? Yes, we can.
To look at our brothers and sisters without pre-judging because of some word, physical action or characteristic, is a huge challenge for most of us. Possessing similar lifestyles or socio-economic levels, along with mutual agreement, is not a condition for or a requirement of unconditional love. In fact, these are all contradictions if used as conditions. Neither God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit require anything but unconditional love to avoid looking at someone and thinking what should have been, could have been, or would have been. Rather, we need to look at them and speak what should be, could be, would be, and still can be. This is our calling and greatest command. All Christians are under God’s grace, are anointed, and have been received and approved. Being the good news of Jesus Christ means looking at the world through His eyes. He (The Triune God) is the only one who has known us since before we were conceived in the womb, and he is the only one who knows our entire history and the trials and challenges we have faced.

As David spoke of God in Psalm 139:13-16:

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16     your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
    were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
We don’t know the entire story regarding someone’s past and it would not be ours to judge if we did. The Triune God is the only one who knows the internal person. We are to be true disciples of Jesus Christ—period. That does not imply that we are to “enable” to the point of a person feeling entitled to something without making any contributing effort whatsoever. This action and mindset robs a person of feeling at least partly responsible for their own progress and success, and the knowledge that the Holy Spirit is working in and for them as well. This makes their belief, faith, and trust in God stronger and makes them more confident and capable. The Triune God wants us all to step out in faith alone, not knowing, so He can act. Just trust, have faith, and believe.
During my early morning conversations with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, I have had the exquisite privilege of a brief insight into the thoughts and reasoning of God and His Son Jesus, as interpreted by the Holy Spirit. It was very brief, but brought great clarity and understanding. Seeing this world through the eyes of Jesus presented an example for us that is difficult, but not impossible, to emulate. That is His command and our commission. This is possible and available to us all.
On a slightly different note; have you ever wondered about the rest of the universe, outside of the earth? I have. We know God created it, because the Bible says so.

Hebrews 11:1-3

By Faith

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Isaiah 40:26
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
    and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.
Cross references:
I was mulling this around one morning and God opened this window for me for one brief period of time, and I saw and understood. The vastness, diversity and complexity of his creation is more than we can tolerate or comprehend for more than a moment. It was amazing and all very real and true. Believe, have faith, and trust completely.
God, through his son Jesus Christ, and then with his gift of the Holy Spirit, gave us all the equal opportunity for salvation, redemption and sanctification. All we need to do is believe, have faith, and trust in him. Jesus gave his life for us. What other gift can compare to this example of unconditional love?! He clearly left to us his instructions and provision for our walk with him. He left us with all power and authority to accomplish his commission in our lives. Would he see us using it in full confidence of the expectation of positive fulfillment of all God’s promises, as they are written in his word? Maybe sometimes, in some places, by some Christians, but not to the extent of his anointing and our gifting. We do have the ability through his power and authority to speak his promises into reality.

Matthew 17:20

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

James 5:15

15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

May we all be accepting servants of all of God’s grace and gifting, and put these into practice for his glory. Amen.

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