It was late December in 2019 when Cathy and I were sharing breakfast with a friend. As we were approaching a new year, 2020, she asked me to expound on a thought. She was familiar with an occasional internet blog I started in 2008 where I would sometimes share thoughts or encouragement. She told me that since 20/20 vision was considered perfect that she wanted to spend the year of 2020 seeking God’s perfect vision for her at this time in her life. I thought that was a great idea and wrote an article about finding God’s perfect vision for this time in our life.
Well, we didn’t get very far in the year for perfect vision
until we began hearing and learning about a new word, COVID. Everything changed. We lost loved ones. Some became very ill but recovered. Some are still recovering. Businesses closed. Some never recovered. Others are still struggling.
Personally, I had a very mild case of COVID but other things
started happening. I tell people that I
am now 71 years old and the first 68 years were OK. Since 2019, I have had six minor surgeries,
one major surgery, three heart procedures and I am getting hearing aids next
week. I am reminded of a picture my dad
had on the wall. Two cowboys were
leaning on a fence. A brief glance told
you immediately that both had lived a very hard and rough life. One cowboy is leaning toward his friend
saying; “Boy, if I had known I was going to live this long, I would have
took better care of myself!”
So what lessons were there to be learned from the past three
years? What was discovered by seeking
God’s perfect vision? Well, I was
reminded, as I had preached for many years, that we live in a sin-scarred world
where bad things can happen to anyone at any time. While it is often difficult or impossible to
understand with our finite and limited spiritual knowledge and vision, God does
not bring or cause suffering in our life or world but he does often allow it to
work in our lives to help us obtain perfect spiritual vision and
knowledge. In no vague or uncertain
terms, Scripture affirms that God made Jesus perfect through suffering. This is
stated in Hebrews 5.8-9: “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from
what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal
salvation for all who obey him.”
My mother used to say that she would be happy if her
children were happy. We cannot base our
happiness or feelings on external circumstances, of which we have no
control. The only thing we can truly
control in this life is our response to what just happened.
Paul discovered the secret to finding contentment in the
midst of any circumstance. He truly knew what it was to go through difficult
circumstances. He had been beaten,
shipwrecked and bitten by a snake all while trying to follow God’s plan and
share the Gospel. He was falsely
imprisoned when he wrote Philippians 4:12-13, “I know what it is to be in
need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living
in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul
says that he can do anything, and go through anything God sets before him
because he knows the Lord will provide the strength to complete that trial. We also
can do whatever God sets before us if we trust the Lord to provide.
I was reminded again that life is truly fragile, brief and
fleeting. One can lose life, health,
wealth, family and friends in a flash. Even
a long life on this planet is but a blink in eternity. While God dwells in eternity we exist in a
world of time with all its’ limitations.
Perfect spiritual vision leads us to see the importance of loving life,
family and friends every second of each day.
One never knows what the next second may bring in this sin-scarred
world.
I cannot accomplish anything positive by worrying about injustice,
political chaos and violence that seems to be constant and out of my control. Again, the only thing we can truly control in
this life is our response to what just happened. I may not be able to change circumstances in
this world but I can do something about trusting God by faith more each day and
how I treat and react to the people I encounter each day no matter what the
circumstances in the world may be for me or them. Whether it is family that I live with,
friends and neighbors I see regularly or the strangers I encounter on a daily
basis; I can be as kind, loving, patient and helpful to each and every one I
encounter. I think that is God’s perfect
vision for my life at this time.
