I remember hearing at the end of 2019, how thrilled people were for that year to be over, and how hopeful to welcome in 2020, declaring this year to be the year of prophetic vision. Some of those people may be recanting, but I am not one of them.
The one who has eyes to see, let them see… isn’t that what 20-20 vision is about? Things coming into focus, seeing how the smaller parts make the bigger picture, and having clarity of purpose and direction.
There are ugly things that are easy to see: Privilege as the rich shelter in place, and the poor get hungrier, death and destruction as the virus makes its way around the world. And lately It’s been easier to see hatred, injustice, racism, … and the sinful state of the human heart. But even with locusts in Africa, fires in Australia, corona virus, lockdowns around the world threatening peoples very lives through hunger, cyclones in South Asia, flooding in El Salvador, and now protests and riots in the US – I am seeing things much more clearly than I was before, and I am grateful.
I am seeing my idols of comfort and security. I am seeing the places where unbelief and cynicism had crept in, and were easily held in place by the “status quo” in my life. I’m seeing areas of my heart that are not in line with God’s Kingdom and not in line with how I want to live.
I am also hearing what God is doing in many places around the world: people are being healed, families are being fed by strangers, time opening up is leading to new plans, new opportunities, new vision.
Some people are refocusing. The reality of how frail our lives really are is setting in, and for some it means a resetting of priorities. They are loving more, letting go of more things, they are giving more, and sharing the good news of the Gospel more. I am also seeing more of my white friends (myself included) awaken to the ways that our silence has benefitted no one but ourselves in what it looks like to really love our brothers and sisters of color. I’m seeing eyes opening, and vision clearing up.
In all of it, there are cries from many for things to go back to “normal.”
I pray that I, for one, don’t go back to “normal.” I do want my offset priorities to be restructured. I don’t want to be so concerned about saving my life that I end up losing it (Matthew 16:25). I do want to take seriously what the Word of God says about the battle we are in. I don’t want my “vision” to be informed by the media or by worldly wisdom. I do want my vision to be informed by Jesus, who is the Word.
When evil increases, I don’t want my love to grow cold.
So here is the Word I cling to for my temptations of the day:
When I’m tempted to fight people in my own strength:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Eph 6:12
When I’m tempted to un-righteous anger that leads to sin:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43-44
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
When I’m tempted to worry about what people will think of me, depending on where they think I am on the political spectrum:
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
When I’m tempted to self-righteousness:
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 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.” Matthew 7:3-5
Lord, Help Us see what You see. Help me see myself clearly first… and submit my heart to your care. Help us to buy salve to anoint our eyes that we may see. (Revelation 3:18). And then help us be bold in sharing YOUR love and YOUR truth.
What do you see?
