Needing Eye Surgery

It has been a number of years now since I was first diagnosed with myopia. Myopia is defined in Wikipedia, as "a refractive defect of the eye in which collimated light produces image focus in front of the retina when accommodation is relaxed." Now before you begin prayer vigils for me and my "critical condition," let me assure you that I am going to make it. As a matter of fact, it is most likely that my condition will not result in my demise. For those of you, like myself, that are not as well versed in medical terminology (I had to look this stuff up)... I am nearsighted. In the most simplest of explanations, I can only see clearly when things are close. Much farther than a couple feet, I require corrective lenses, and until God gives me my glorified body or we can save the small fortune Lasik would require, I am doomed to wear eyeglasses.

I am, unfortunately, stricken with a spiritual myopic condition as well. I think most folks are, really. We can only see the here and now, and truth be known, we don't do so good with seeing up close and should have spiritual bifocals because what we see right now is pretty blurry too. I tend to see things most often from a very worldly perspective. I focus merely on what I think I see, but God's desire is that I begin to develop what I will call "forever eyes." I believe that when we receive Christ by faith, God gives us a new set of eyes. And, like getting new glasses, we must use them frequently in order to adjust to seeing with our new sight. If we used our forever eyes regularly, it would give us a tremendous amount of perspective on the here and now.

There's an old Alfred Brumley gospel song whose chorus sings:

"O Lord you know I have no friend like you

If Heaven's not my home, then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

Too often, we spend our time looking at where we are now and trying to set up shop here on earth, but, like John Ortberg describes, that is as foolish as trying to redecorate a motel room when we are staying there-- this place is not our home. Oftentimes, I get discouraged because I focus on that which is temporary. But God wants me to fix my eyes on Jesus and on my eternal destiny. Listen to what God describes for us through his prophet Isaiah in chapter 65:

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;

And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind." (v.17)

Some versions translate the word "behold" as LOOK, SEE or even PAY ATTENTION. The chapter finishes with a vivid description of where our eternal perspective should be focus.

I especially like that way Eugene Peterson renders this passage in the Message. In this verse, he says, "All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten." God has SO MUCH better in store for us. If only we could learn to use our "forever eyes" we would know exactly know what Paul was saying when he said, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."

Until then, I will be needing daily eye surgery.

Who's Got Your Back?

Recently, as elders and staff, we concluded a weekend retreat by forming a circle facing outward and praying together as a symbol that we have each others back. It was meaningful, and I cherish the time we had together as men leading the church where I serve. We, as the church, should do just that. However, if you have ever be on the receiving end of betrayal as I have, you learn that even the most trusted people can fail you or let you down. This week, I read a little verse that really jumped off the page at me as I had never read it before, but I love what it says:

"Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:8)

The context of that verse is that God, through the prophet, just rebuked the Israelites for going through the motions of religion and that if they wanted to truly find what they seek, they needed to draw near to the LORD. Verse tells them (and us) that if we draw near to God, His glory will be our rear guard. We all need each other, there is no doubt, but when push comes to shove, who's got your back?

Come to the Table

Kids, I think by design, have vivid imaginations. They love pretending to be something or someone else. As a matter of fact, my current blog profile picture shows both of my daughters doing just that. At least once a week, when I arrive home from work, I am received with not squeals of glee and shouts that daddy is home but rather with barks and meows. The thing is, I don't have any pets. My girls will crawl to me on their hands and knees pretending they are in fact puppies and kitties. They however, are still learning when to stop pretending and become little girls again when it is time to come to the table for dinner. We have to tell them that puppies and kitties don't belong at the table. The people of Israel had the same problem.

It is interesting that right after what the prophet Isaiah recorded right after chapter 57's extension of mercy to God's people. The LORD begins to address an issue with His people that we would do well to heed. Having been in Babylonian exile for 70 years pretty much cured the people of idolatry; however, they would embark on another sin that would intensify over the next 400 years that many of them missed the arrival of the promised Messiah. They began to pretend, and they did not when to stop.

You see the people had begun to go through the motions of ritual fast and legalism. But they were missing the point. The purpose of fasting, as God describes it, is to draw near to Him, not just to do it and check it off the "to-do" list. Their fasting wasn't affecting their lives. Notice what He says:

6"Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
7"Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8"Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; (Isaiah 58:6-9)

They were pretending to be what they were not, they were acting like they were being holy, and yet they were not drawing near to the One who could make them holy and consequently, they were not ministering to those around them. We can easily do the same thing. Only now, our rituals are different. We can do inherently good things, but do them for the wrong reasons and totally miss the point. We can lift our hands in worship but only be enamored with the music and the emotion of the moment, but then after the service, we do not live like it means something.

So what is the point? He wants us first to draw near to Him, and as He takes over every corner of our lives, He will begin to penetrate everything that we do and we will do things not to make ourselves feel better or out of empty ritual, but rather we will do the things for the glory of God as He manifests Himself in us.

It's time for supper, let's come to the table!

Drink Deeply

I am somewhat addicted to a television show on one of the science channels. It is called "Survivor Man." The basic gist of this show is that this survival expert equipped with only camera gear (with which he alone records his expedition), a multi-tool and a few odds and ends, is dropped off in the wilds of everything from the frozen tundra north of the arctic circle to a barren desert to survive for 7 days. He is forced to find shelter, food, and clean water. His ingenuity facinates me as he creatively turns ordinary items into things which keeps him alive. Often, he is compelled to purify his own water when little or none is available. However, one of the things that I noticed is that whenever he comes upon a source of pure flowing water, he always does the same thing. He plunges his face into the surface of the water and drinks deeply of the sustaining life giving flow.

I still have been unable to get used to is God's mercy on me. The Apostle John in his first letter speaks of God lavishing His love on us. Having been introduced to His grace at an early age, like the people of Israel, I prostituted my heart to the things of the world. And even still, I chase after that which is stagnant and does not satisfy the deep longing of my heart. Scripture is filled with descriptions of God's mercy that pours out on His beloved.

Isaiah 55 is one great example. The whole chapter is fraught with invitations to come to Him and find refreshing. Verse 1 begins this theme, "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;" and continues through the chapter with much of the same. But of course, as we read God's word, the best way to interpret it is to keep it in context. Who is He talking to in these verses? He is extending this invitation to a people who are about to come out of 70 years of Babylonian exile having been disciplined for prostituting their hearts in idolatry and immorality. They didn't deserve His mercy, they deserved to be forgotten. But instead, He tells them that He is about to restore them to Himself. "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (vs. 7)

Perhaps you find yourself wandering in the wilderness just trying to survive. He calls to you and longs to give you that which deeply quenches your soul, His mercy. Will you try to continue satisfying yourself with stagnated water that the world has to offer and cannot satisfy? Instead, drink deeply of His mercy, for it alone can satisfy.

It's Not Yours Steward!

In the third installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is a scene where Gandalf approaches Lord Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, who rules over Minas Tirith in the absence of the true king of Gondor. Denethor has grown accustomed to being in charge of the kingdom. When faced with the reality of losing his miniature throne to the rightful heir, he digs in his heels and refuses to acknowlege Aragorn's lineage. His stubbornness results in his demise. He had been given the task to manage that which was not rightfully his, and yet he clung to it though it did not belong to him.

We do the same thing. We are charged by God to manage that which He has blessed us with in a wealth of resources and talents. And yet, too often, we cling to that which does not belong to us. We are but managers or stewards. Eventually the heir will call in account as to what we have done with what we have been given. There are a number of passages in the scriptures that speak of this. One of the most notable is the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. The Master leaves for a time and leaves varying amounts of money (talents) to his slaves. When he returns, he demands to know what has been done with what they have been given. Some are found faithful and fruitful, others, experience loss and judgement.

What has God blessed you with? Time? Money? Family? Friends? His Grace? His Gospel? It has all been given to us to be used and given away. It is not ours, it belongs to the Master, and He will soon ask to be given an account. Don't squander his resources on that which is temporal. When He returns, let's be found ready and having been faithful with much, and he will reward those who have obeyed Him.

"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away." (vs. 29)

Question to Ponder...

I heard a question this weekend that I thought I would pass on to you. I do not normally discuss politics on my blog as I firmly believe that Jesus Christ, not any politician, is the Savior of our nation. However, this question, evokes consideration...

"If Barak gets elected as the next president, does that make us an Obama-nation?"