Seeing Clearly What We First Could Not See
“I can’t find the fill line,” he said as he looked intently at the side of the gasoline container for the weed eater. “It used to be there. Can you see it?” he asked me (one whose eyes were the same age as his & one who has worn glasses for as long as he has). Nevertheless, I walked out of the sunlight of the late afternoon to the back of the garage where shadows and darkness were more prevalent than sunlight and sight. Attempting to see (the fill line), I held up the small container and looked at first one side, then the next, then the third, and finally the fourth side, returning my eyes to where I began.
“There is not a fill line any longer,” I replied as I sat the small gas container on the side of the riding lawn mower. “Maybe it was once there, years ago, when we first purchased the container, but it’s gone now.”
Today, that scene replays in my mind as I sit here reading the Bible and preparing for my new day.
- A NEW day.
- What an amazing opportunity God has given us, & God does this day-after-day-after-day.
- Every Day.
- Every Step We Take.
- Every Move We Make.
Day-after-Day, Step-by-Step, Walking with our Lord—Matters!
Later today, I will receive the opportunity to speak with a group of young students, high schoolers who are so interested in their futures that they are willing to become part of a new apprenticeship opportunity and to give up a week of their summer holiday to attend a “school-like” camp.
- I am overwhelmed that they have invited me to speak with them today.
Then, after time shared with these young students, I am going to have a conversation with an unbeliever, one who replied with one single word when I gave her my busy schedule for today, explaining that I only had a small window for “a talk.” I knew deep in my heart that we were sitting at the third chapter of John in our “book talk” when I responded with: Please say YES that you can talk during that window of time, this person responded with one word: YES.
- I am overwhelmed that she wants to talk with me today.
There is a passage in the Bible where Jesus meets with a man under the cover of darkness because the man feared meeting and questioning Jesus in the middle of the day, surrounded by others who knew this man. Let’s pause right here and read the apostle John’s description of this conversation between Jesus Christ and a well-known Pharisee named Nicodemus.
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
(John 3: 1-3 NASB)
this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him,
“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus responded and said to him,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
It is a truth—
- God honors those who continue to follow His commands, even when there is a cost in following Jesus.
- God honors those who are willing to pay the cost for their commitment to God.
- God honors those who are willing to yield to the Holy Spirit and be led in the right direction.
The more we remain consistent with people who do not yet believe in Jesus, the more opportunities these precious ones have to SEE clearly what they cannot SEE today.
- Jesus knew this truth when he spoke with the religious man Nicodemus.
- Jesus knew exactly why this ruler came to speak with Him when others were home with their families.
- Jesus knew, &
- Jesus met Nicodemus figuratively and literally EXACTLY where Nicodemus was in his struggle to believe.
What faith-opportunities will we be offered today to share Jesus with someone?
- Are we prayerfully ready?
- Are we spiritually ready?
- Are we obediently ready?
Every day matters!
Every day God leaves us here on earth—matters!
- As Christians, we have a certain amount of time remaining to impact our world for Jesus.
- Are we ready when the Holy Spirit prepares someone’s heart and leads the person our way?
- Are we willing to speak when the moment arises?
- Are we prepared to open our Bible and share what we are led by the Spirit of God to share?
We (mere humans) cannot explain how people are born again into the family of God, but Jesus can, so let us rely upon the words of Jesus Christ our Savior.
“Nicodemus said to Him, [to Jesus]
(John 3: 4-8 NASB)
“How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?
Jesus answered,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
A NEW day—today!
- Can you see the opportunities God will provide?
- Can you see HIM?
- Can you see the “truth” of what Jesus did upon the cross & in the tomb?
- Can you see the “amazing gift” of God’s Salvation?
What an amazing opportunity God has given us!
Thank You, God, for giving us new opportunities like this day-after-day-after-day!
Day-after-Day, Step-by-Step, Walking with our Lord—Matters!
Before the apostle John’s death, God allows for John to be taken prisoner and placed on a remote island of Patmos. God does this for a specific reason: to provide a space and time for John to receive God’s Revelation. Today, we can see a glimpse of our future home in heaven because of God’s work in John’s life. Let us end with a small look into the Revelation.
As we do, may we walk “READY” to give our testimony, to share our witness with those who cannot currently see, & let us be “READY” to help them—
See Clearly What We (too) First Could Not See!
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
(Revelation 21: 1-5 NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said,
“Behold, I am making all things new.”
And He said,
“Write, for these words are faithful and true.”