“The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.” – Psalms 37:32
Most everyone has vision problems.
For some, it’s realized early. Glasses become a necessity in youth. They might use contact lenses later, or have LASIK treatment. Nevertheless, their eyesight will require aid forever.
For others, life slowly blurs. Deterioration of their eyesight is gradual. It creeps up … until the day they realize squinting no longer works. They need help. Glasses are a new reality.
Nearly everybody wears glasses at some point in life. Some feel self-conscious. The wearer is really in a jam if they’re lost or broken. It’s almost a no-win.
Yes, poor eyesight is a very human condition. God, on the other hand, helps us “see” the world through a different lens. It’s not always rose colored, either. Where we affix our vision – not how – is the key to living a life where we fully see God’s guidance and commandments for us.
Seeing the world as God directs us
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” – Philippians 3:13
Horses are notoriously skittish creatures. Sudden movements spook them. Handlers put blinders on the animals to focus their eyes straight ahead. With no peripheral vision, chances greatly diminish of their being upset by nearby activity.
Humans don’t wear literal blinders. Yes, often metaphorical ones, to be sure.
No, we look wherever our interests, and desires, take us. They might be down paths of righteousness … or somewhere else.
Where are you affixing your gaze? Which horizons are you scanning? As importantly, where are you not looking?
The world is full of false gods that are all too prominent in our sight: money. Possessions. Career. Ego. Fame. Gambling. Pornography.
Are you staring at these idols, absorbed and unable to look away? Has your vision strayed away from God’s purposes … and affixed itself on the horizon of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Prepare your vision statement
“So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’” – Matthew 14:29-31
We can easily find trouble if not looking in the right places. By example, Peter was fine, strolling across the waves, until he looked away from Jesus. He panicked as he sank. Jesus’s rebuke was strong and poignant.
We begin to slowly sink when we take our eyes off Christ. We might not even grasp it. Those false gods grab our attention oh-so-easily. Eventually, though, we realize our situation … and lose our cool, just like Peter.
Yet, we shouldn’t have to start sinking to realize a problem exists. Keeping our eyes on God, and the light of the cross, saves us from drowning. Things get really wet, really fast, only when we doubt. Those false gods always beckon.
How to avoid this? Make a personal vision statement. Pledge to focus on Jesus, and his promise of hope. Fully appreciate that, because of His love and sacrifice, better times lie ahead.
It’s easy to get distracted in life. A “vision statement” can keep your attention on Jesus, where it justly belongs. Even amid life’s greatest storms, His presence will make you feel like you can walk on water.
(If you’re ready to embrace Christ, He’s ready for you. Visit C Suite for Christ to join in Christ-centered fellowship with other professionals. Submit a prayer request for a pressing need in your life. Participate in a virtual prayer session to ask God to be with those who have submitted requests. Follow C Suite for Christ on LinkedIn and Facebook. Questions? Contact Paul M. Neuberger at (414) 313-8338 or pneuberger@csuiteforchrist.com.)
