A New Perspective

Vision problems can be scary. One friend’s husband may be facing a diagnosis of macular degeneration. Another friend had cataract surgery. Yet another friend’s son experienced scratched corneas in both eyes. Although his eyes are now healed, at the time the doctor considered the possibility of a cornea transplant. I struggle with dry eye syndrome, most often when I spend long periods on my laptop without taking critical breaks.

Sight is precious, isn’t it? We do everything we can to protect it. Eye drops, glasses, laser surgery, cataract surgery . . . and so much more.

We go to such extremes to protect physical sight—a temporary ability.  Sadly, most of us don’t spend the same effort in cultivating and developing our spiritual sight.

It’s time for a new perspective. What would happen if we began to view people and circumstances from God’s perspective?

Divisiveness and rancor are out of control in our nation and in our neighborhoods. Name-calling and violence are the norm. And that’s not just during election campaigns. Elections end, but the name-calling continues. Sore losers and ungracious winners. The political parties of the winners and losers may change, but the responses often remain the same.

Pundits agree middle-America is tired of being overlooked, while minorities are fearful of a return to the good ol’ days . . . which were not all that good for them. The division is just as strong among Christians:

How could you vote for a pro-abortion baby killer?

How could you vote for a misogynist?

How could you support a liar?

How could you support such a pompous ego?

Why are you wearing a face mask?

Why aren’t you wearing a face mask?

Don’t you know the dangers of getting a vaccine?

Don’t you know the dangers of not getting a vaccine?

I find myself wondering how God views Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. How He views their supporters. How He views you and me.

I have a feeling that, in His eyes, we’re more alike than different. Self-righteous. Proud. Critical. Sinners.

And the enemy sits back and laughs, while we do his work for him.

Have we forgotten who the real enemy is? The one who works to blind the spiritual eyes of those who need the Savior. The one who strives to prevent them from receiving the gift of salvation freely offered to both Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, blacks and whites (and every shade in between).

These divisions are not new. Division and strife existed even among Jesus’s diverse group of disciples. Consider the tension that might have occurred as Simon the zealot and Matthew the tax collector traveled with Jesus for more than three years!

For the record, Jesus will return to set everything right. Until that day, will you and I ask God for the spiritual sight to see others from His perspective? To respond to earthly situations with the assurance that our circumstances are temporary, but God is eternal and sovereign? And finally, to trust that He is always working for the ultimate good of His people and His eternal glory.

Jesus showed us the way to a different view. A new perspective. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35 NIV).

Will we open our eyes to see?