What Do You See?

Sunday morning retuning: Are you ready to see Jesus breaking through the clouds?  We laughed at Pastor Paul recounting his boyhood fear of being left behind if the rapture occurred and he was not ready.  But truly it is no laughing matter.  We need to be ready, for Jesus’ return, and to give a reason for the hope we have it Him and it!!

Last week Aiden was learning about leaves at school.  He found a leaf from one of our bushes at the front of our house and was pointing out the veins.  He asked me, "Dad, do you see the veins in the leaves?"  Of course I told him I could.  I was thrilled as He told me some other things that he had observed about this leaf after a quick examination of it.

It had been too long since I stopped and considered the marvel of creation revealed in the intricacies of a leaf.  I was taken back by the design and beauty, even as I pondered having to rakes thousands of them in the coming weeks.  God was reminding me through Aiden what a wonder life is, even in some of it’s simplest and most fleeting expressions.

He then proceeded to flip the leaf over and share more observations with me...

He marveled at how different the color of the leaf was on the other side. "The other side is green, but this side is purple and red."  I was reminded how exciting learning something new or even gaining a fresh perspective on something can be.

I was reflecting on this a few days later and pondered the difference between what we see and what God sees.  You have heard the analogy of a tapestry.  We see the backside with all the knots and loose pieces of string, while God sees the other side, the finished project in all it’s glory.

It reminded me of the 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. “

This caused me to think of a word I have heard recently, backstory.  It is basically the story that led up to the present one.  For our purposes, your backstory is the series of events you have come through to get to today.  When you look at or consider your backstory, what is there?  All of us have some dilemmas and delights, some trials and triumphs.  They shape us into what we are, for better or worse, as we surrender to God’s influence through them...or not.

And so I ask you, “What do you see?” When you look at your life, what do you see?  What does the backstory look like for you.  A tragedy, a thriller, a musical, a comedy, a divine romance, et al. or maybe elements of each and much more.  But let me remind you that your perspective is limited, and God is not finished with you yet.

You can only see one side of the leaf at best, and not even that clearly.  You can certainly not see the beautiful tapestry God is weaving of all the circumstances He has brought you through.  Your story is not complete, and it could take a dramatic and merciful twist at any moment, as the Author and Finisher of our faith wills. Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus, give us eyes to see all that we need to see and faith to trust you for what we can not.  We place all our hope in You, the One who has started a good “story” in us, and will be faithful to complete it.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy