You can only see just what you are looking at
I had become frustrated with my glasses about two years ago. The glasses would slip down and I could not use the lower part of the lens for reading. When I came in to obtain a new pair, extensive tests were done on my eyes. All previous tests, including the pressure measurements, were normal except for the presence of nearsightedness. Although the pressure measurements were normal, they said that I had severe normal pressure glaucoma which was diagnosed by a peripheral field examination. I was asked to look straight ahead and press a buzzer when I saw a vibration or a blinking light. To my surprise, they said that most of the upper field of vision was no longer present. The lower lateral range, however, was still sufficient for driving. They then made the comment that I was rapidly approaching a point where I would only be able to see just what I was looking at.
As I considered this statement, I was reminded of a man in scripture who, also, could only see just what he was looking at. His name was Asaph. He describes to us what he was looking at and what he saw. “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:1-3) His eyes were focused on others. As he looked at them, he saw only that they were “always carefree,” “they increase in wealth.” (Psalm 73:12) “They threaten oppression.” (Psalm 73:8) and “Their tongues take possession of the earth.” (Psalm 73:9) What was the result of having his sight focused on them? His feet had almost slipped. He says in verse 13, “In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.” He could only see and contemplate on that which he was looking at. It had changed him into a man of despair, depression and disillusionment.
There are also other dangers we face when we look at others and consider their condition as compared with ours. We may think of ourselves as superior, more important, or having more worth or value than others. Such was the case with the disciples of Christ. “Then they came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.” (Mark 9:33-34) In the case of the disciples, this led to pride, insistence of self worth in comparison to others, arguing and dissension.
A third way of looking at others which leads us astray and is detrimental to our walk with Christ is illustrated in I Corinthians 3:3-4. “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere men?” We are often tempted to identify ourselves with others that are well known, respected and have a significant degree of admiration from others. We can feel exalted to some measure before others merely by mentioning their names as persons we have perhaps met, heard speak, or whose books we have read. Even the mention of their names seems to be something that may be used to exalt ourselves before others.
There is yet another way of looking at others which is detrimental to our growth in Christ. It occurs when we are around individuals who have been given gifts, talents or opportunities which we have not experienced. We may begin to think “If only I had that gift or talent, or if only I had been given that opportunity.” The list goes on. It may make us feel that we don’t “measure up” to others, and that we are less likely to make the difference in the world that others have made.
The participation in any of these four examples of looking only at others can lead us astray. The result may produce pride because we think that we we compare favorably with others, or depression because we don’t! They represent a snare for our lives. The only safeguard is for our eyes to be focused on the Lord instead. We would do well to consider the words of the psalmist in Psalm 25:15. “My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”
Hebrews chapter 11 contains the stories of many who were faithful to the Lord and whom we consider as heroes of our faith. We are only directed, however, to fix our eyes on One, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 12:2 we read the following. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The word “fix” means to stare with wonder and amazement, being captured by the thought of who He is, and to consider what he has done for us with such desire and intensity that it captures our mind and our heart. As we do this, we come through God’s grace to realize the truth of who He is and who we are in relationship to Him. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:9-10) KJV God has given us everything we need in Christ! We are given our own unique set of gifts. We are provided additionally with opportunities and advantages which are individualized just for us. We do not need anything that anyone else possesses. This includes their talents, their background and opportunities. Each one of is a different design, gifted like no one else and individually prepared by the Holy Spirit to accomplish what the Lord has predetermined for us to do. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
As the author and perfecter of our faith, He wants us to know that He has given us His very life! “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, bur Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) HIs life is to be expected. “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (I Corinthians 1:30) His life is to be experienced. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) His life is to be expressed. “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” (II Corinthians 4:10-11)
Few of us, hopefully, will ever have physical glaucoma which limits our site to only what we are focusing on. We all, to some extent, have had spiritual glaucoma when we have focused on others, ourselves and our circumstances. We can only see spiritually what we are looking at. May the eyes of your spirit be continually fixed on the Lord, so that the manifestation of His life will be fully expressed.
In Christ, Richard Spann